Arkansas 2016 ballot measures
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Four measures were certified to appear on the Arkansas ballot on November 8, 2016.
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, and Issue 6 were on the November 8 ballot. All four of the measures were approved.
The Arkansas Supreme Court struck two initiatives, Issue 4 and Issue 5, from the ballot on October 13, 2016.[1] Issue 4 would have placed a cap on awards in medical malpractice lawsuits. Issue 5 would have authorized three new casinos in the state. The measures appeared on the ballot, but the court instructed the Arkansas Secretary of State to neither count nor certify results. The court struck down Issue 7, which was designed to legalize medical marijuana, on October 27, 2016.[2]
At least 14 initiatives were filed for spots on the 2016 ballot in Arkansas. Some of these were repeat filings of the same or similar measures. Petitioners needed to file the requisite number of signatures by July 8, 2016.
Getting measures on the ballot
Citizens of Arkansas may initiate legislation as either a state statute or a constitutional amendment. In Arkansas, citizens also have the power to repeal legislation via veto referendum. The Arkansas State Legislature may also place measures on the ballot as legislatively referred constitutional amendments or legislatively referred state statutes.
Citizens were required to file at least 67,887 valid signatures for initiated state statutes, at least 50,916 valid signatures for veto referendums, and at least 84,859 valid signatures for initiated constitutional amendments.
During the 2015 state legislative session, the legislature placed three legislatively referred constitutional amendments on the 2016 ballot.
Historical facts
A total of 48 measures have appeared on statewide ballots since 1996. Two of the measures on the statewide ballot in 2012 were ultimately declared invalid by the court and therefore votes were not counted for them.
- Between 1996 and 2016, an average of four measures appeared on the ballot in Arkansas.
- The number of measures appearing on statewide ballots between 1996 and 2016 has ranged from one to six.
- Between 1996 and 2016, about 60 percent (29 of 48) of statewide ballots were approved by voters, about 35 percent (17 of 48) were defeated, and about four percent (2 of 48) were approved but then overturned by the court.
On the ballot
Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
LRCA | Issue 1 | Local Gov't | Rules governing certain county officials | ![]() |
LRCA | Issue 2 | State Exec | Role of governor when absent from the state | ![]() |
LRCA | Issue 3 | Bonds | Removes the cap on the amount of bonds the state is allowed to issue | ![]() |
CICA | Issue 6 | Marijuana | Legalize medical marijuana | ![]() |
Cost per required signatures
The cost per required signatures (CPRS) is a comparison of the amount of money spent on the petition drive to the number of signatures the state requires for an initiative to make the ballot.
Arkansas initiatives removed from the ballot
- See also: Issue 4 court lawsuit, Issue 5 lawsuit, and Issue 7 lawsuit
In 2016, three additional initiatives were certified for the ballot by state officials, but were later removed from the ballot by the Arkansas Supreme Court or disqualified by the Arkansas Supreme Court such that results for the measures weren't counted. Two measures, Issue 4 and Issue 7, were struck from the ballot based on deficiencies in the signature petitions and a failure to follow all of the state's laws about petition circulators. Issue 5 was ruled against because it violated federal law. Since these initiatives were initially certified for the ballot, the signature petition cost information was available and is shown below:
- Issue 4 - Petition cost: $807,762.00; CPRS: $9.52; Petition company: 3.0 LLC
- Issue 5 - Petition cost: $799,367.21; CPRS: $9.42; Petition companies: Stampede Consulting, LLC, and National Ballot Access
- Issue 7 - Petition cost: $49,013.65; CPRS: $0.72; Petition company: None (paid individuals and volunteers)
Not on the ballot
Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
CICA | Issue 4 | Tort | Cap on medical malpractice awards | ![]() |
CICA | Issue 5 | Gambling | Casinos in Boone, Miller and Washington counties | ![]() |
CISS | Issue 7 | Marijuana | Legalize medical marijuana | ![]() |
LRCA | County Official Term Limits Amendment | Term limits | Increases the term limits of certain county officials | ![]() |
LRCA | Lottery Proceeds for Scholarships Amendment | Lottery | Allows lottery proceeds to be used for scholarships and grants | ![]() |
LRCA | Court Procedures Amendment | Judiciary | Relates to court procedures for civil claims | ![]() |
LRCA | Voter Identification Amendment | Elections | Requires in person voters to present photo identification | ![]() |
LRCA | Definition of "Infamous Crime" Amendment | Con language | Defines the term "infamous crime" as used in the Arkansas Constitution | ![]() |
LRCA | Notice Publication Amendment | Legislature | Allows the legislature to determine the manner of publishing of notices required by the constitution | ![]() |
LRCA | Board of Higher Education Term Limits Amendment | Term limits | Provides that boards of higher education are not subject to standard board term limits | ![]() |
LRCA | Rules of Procedure in Civil Cases Amendment | Civil trials | Authorizes the legislature to enact laws concerning rules of procedure for civil cases | ![]() |
LRCA | Court Rules for Civil Claims Amendment | Civil trials | Concerns court rules and procedures applicable to civil claims | ![]() |
LRCA | Award of Damages in Civil Cases Amendment | Civil trials | Authorizes the legislature to regulate the award of damages in civil cases | ![]() |
LRCA | Legislative Sessions Amendment | Legislature | Reduces the number of days the legislature is in session | ![]() |
LRCA | Single Candidate Elections Amendment | Elections | Authorizes the legislature to enact laws governing elections with a single candidate | ![]() |
LRCA | Funding for Education Amendment | Education | Provides that state funds for public education not exceed a certain percentage of overall state expenditures | ![]() |
LRCA | Election of Judicial Officials Amendment | Judiciary | Allows the legislature to determine whether judicial officials are selected on a partisan or nonpartisan basis | ![]() |
LRCA | Tax Exemptions for Personal Property Amendment | Taxes | Exempts certain tangible personal property from ad valorem taxes | ![]() |
LRCA | Game and Fish Commission Amendment | Admin of gov't | Concerns the selection of members of the state game and fish commission | ![]() |
LRCA | Provisions for Lieutenant Governor Amendment | State exec | Provides for the election and duties of the lieutenant governor | ![]() |
LRCA | Legislative Term Limits Amendment | Term limits | Limits legislators to a maximum of 10 years in the legislature | ![]() |
VR | Local Government Anti-Discrimination Protections Referendum | LGBT | Repeals state law prohibiting local governments from enacting anti-discrimination protections for gays and lesbians | ![]() |
VR | "Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act" Referendum | Business regulation | Enables the people to vote for or against the Arkansas Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act | ![]() |
CICA | Alcoholic Beverage Amendment | Alcohol | Legalizes alcohol manufacture, sale, distribution, and transportation in every county | ![]() |
CICA | Reducing Constitutional Amendments Amendment | State legislatures measures | Allows the Arkansas General Assembly to propose only one, down from three, constitutional amendment for approval or rejection at the next general election | ![]() |
CICA | County Official Term Extension Amendment | Term limits | Changes the term of office for county officials from two years to four years | ![]() |
CICA | Limiting Non-Economic Damages in Civil Medical Care Cases Amendment | Healthcare | Places a limit on the monetary damages that a person can receive as a result of a civil suit against medical providers | ![]() |
CICA | Hemp and Marijuana Legalization Amendment | Marijuana | Legalizes the use and possession of marijuana for people ages 21 and older | ![]() |
CICA | Cannabis Amendment | Marijuana | Legalizes marijuana | ![]() |
CISS | Civil Rights Act Amendment | Constitutional rights | Amends the Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993 to include sexual orientation and gender identity to the groups protected from discrimination. | ![]() |
CISS | Wet-Dry Election Act | Elections and campaigns | Changes the number of signatures required to call a local option (wet-dry) election from 38 percent of the qualified electors to 20 percent of the qualified electors. | ![]() |
CISS | Campaign Finance Act | Elections and campaigns | Changes campaign finance expenditures and reporting | ![]() |
CISS | Campaign Finance Disclosure Initiative | Elections and campaigns | Changes process of disclosing campaign donors, supports amendment to U.S. Constitution | ![]() |
State profile
Demographic data for Arkansas | ||
---|---|---|
Arkansas | U.S. | |
Total population: | 2,977,853 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 52,035 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 78% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 15.5% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 1.4% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.6% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0.2% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 2.1% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 6.9% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 84.8% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 21.1% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $41,371 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 22.9% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Arkansas. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Arkansas
Arkansas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Arkansas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[3]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Arkansas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Arkansas coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Arkansas
- United States congressional delegations from Arkansas
- Public policy in Arkansas
- Endorsers in Arkansas
- Arkansas fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Additional reading
- Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, "Ballot proposals get green light, switch chambers," April 2, 2015
- The City Wire, "No amendments for the 2016 ballot?" March 22, 2015
- Arkansas Online, "No amendment proposals planned, legislative leaders say," March 19, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ 4029 News, "State Supreme Court boots casinos, tort reform issues off the ballot," October 13, 2016
- ↑ ABC News, "Arkansas Court Disqualifies 2nd Medical Marijuana Proposal," October 27, 2016
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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