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Arkansas Voting and Elections, Proposed Amendment 1 (2008)
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The Arkansas Voting and Elections Amendment, also known as Proposed Amendment 1, was on the ballot in Arkansas on November 4, 2008, as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved. The measure removed obsolete language concerning voter requirements, repealed the requirement of a poll tax receipt, allowed the legislature to determine qualifications of poll workers and to establish the date and time of elections.[1][2]
Election results
| Arkansas Proposed Amendment 1 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 714,128 | 72.76% | ||
| No | 267,326 | 27.24% | ||
Election results via: Arkansas Secretary of State
Background
Amendment 51, adopted by Arkansas voters in 1964, supersedes many of the provisions Proposed Amendment 1 deals with. It already allows a court to cancel the registration of mentally ill or mentally disabled voters if a judge determines the voters are incompetent. Amendment 51 also repealed the poll tax in Arkansas.
Text of measure
The question on the ballot:
| AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING VOTING AND ELECTIONS; PROVIDING THAT ALL PERSONS MAY VOTE WHO ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AT LEAST EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE, AND LAWFULLY REGISTERED TO VOTE; TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RIGHT TO VOTE SHALL NOT BE MADE TO DEPEND ON ANY PREVIOUS REGISTRATION OF AN ELECTOR’S NAME; REPEALING ARTICLE 3, SECTION 5 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION PROVIDING THAT NO IDIOT OR INSANE PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE PRIVILEGES OF AN ELECTOR; AND PERMITTING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ESTABLISH THE DATE AND TIME OF ELECTIONS AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTION OFFICERS.[2][3] |
Support
Supporters
Secretary of State Charlie Daniels, the primary supporter, said he didn't expect any controversy.
- Secretary of State Charlie Daniels
- Sen. Steve Faris, D-Central
Arguments
Notable arguments made in favor of the measure included:
- The measure would update the language of the constitution, and remove archaic language regarding "idiots" and "poll-tax"
See also
- Arkansas 2008 ballot measures
- 2008 ballot measures
- List of Arkansas ballot measures
- History of Initiative & Referendum in Arkansas
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Initiatives and Amendments 1938-2010," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 University of Arkansas, "State Ballot Issues in Arkansas," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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State of Arkansas Little Rock (capital) |
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