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Signature requirements for ballot measures in Arkansas
This page details signature requirements for statewide ballot measures in Arkansas.
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| Laws • History |
| List of measures |
Requirements
Signature requirements in Arkansas differ between statutory initiatives, constitutional amendments and veto referendums. For an initiated constitutional amendment, signatures equal to at least 10 percent of the total number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last gubernatorial election are required. For an initiated state statute, signatures equal to at least 8 percent of this total are required. For veto referendums, signatures equal to at least 6 percent of this total are required.
The chart below shows election years and the signature requirement for initiatives designed to appear on the ballot in that year, with gubernatorial election years bolded.
| Year | Amendment | Statute | Veto referendum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 90,704 | 72,563 | 54,422 |
| 2024 | 90,704 | 72,563 | 54,422 |
| 2022 | 89,151 | 71,321 | 53,491 |
| 2020 | 89,151 | 71,321 | 53,491 |
| 2018 | 84,859 | 67,887 | 50,916 |
| 2016 | 84,859 | 67,887 | 50,916 |
| 2014 | 78,133 | 62,507 | 46,880 |
| 2012 | 78,133 | 62,507 | 46,880 |
| 2010 | 77,468 | 61,974 | 46,481 |
| 2008 | 77,468 | 61,974 | 46,481 |
See law: Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, Section 1
Changes in number of signatures
The chart below illustrates the changes in the number of required signatures for Arkansas ballot measures from 2008 to 2026.
Basis of calculation
Signature requirements are based on the vote cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election.[1]
| Year | Votes cast for governor | Initiative years impacted by this election |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 907,037 | 2024, 2026 |
| 2018 | 891,509 | 2020, 2022 |
| 2014 | 848,592 | 2016, 2018 |
| 2010 | 781,333 | 2012, 2014 |
| 2006 | 774,680 | 2008, 2010 |
Geographic distribution
- See also: Distribution requirement
Arkansas requires that a petition must contain qualified signatures equaling at least half of the required percentage of signatures from each of 50 counties—i.e. one-half of 10 percent = 5 percent for an amendment; one-half of 8 percent = 4 percent for a statute and one-half of six percent= three percent for a veto referendum. For example, if 1,000 people voted for governor in a county and the petition is for a constitutional amendment, the signatures of 50—5 percent of 1,000—qualified electors would be required in that county to meet the requirement for one county out of the 50-county requirement. The requirement was created by House Bill 1419, signed into law in March 2023. The previous requirement, which required a percentage from 15 counties, was created by Arkansas Amendment 7 in 1920.[2]
See law: Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, Section 1
Signature deadlines
Signatures remain valid until the date of the next general election following certification of the ballot language, meaning the maximum circulation period is approximately two years. Signature petitions must be submitted four months prior to the election at which the measure is to appear. Before signature gathering can begin, however, the attorney general must certify the initiative and the proposed ballot title summarizing it. Signatures for veto referendums must be submitted 90 days after the final adjournment of the legislative session during which the targeted bill was passed.
2026
Signatures for initiated statutes and amendments need to be submitted by July 3, 2026—four months prior to the election.
Signatures for veto referendums must be submitted 90 days after the final adjournment of the 2026 state legislative session.
2024
Signatures for initiated statutes and amendments needed to be submitted by July 5, 2024—four months prior to the election.
Signatures for veto referendums must be submitted 90 days after the final adjournment of the 2024 state legislative session.
2022
Citizens were required to file at least 71,321 valid signatures for initiated state statutes, at least 53,491 valid signatures for veto referendums, and at least 89,151 valid signatures for initiated constitutional amendments. Signatures for initiated statutes and amendments needed to be submitted by July 8, 2022—four months prior to the election.
Signatures for veto referendums must be submitted 90 days after the final adjournment of the legislative session during which the targeted bill was passed. The legislature adjourned the 2021 legislative session on October 15, 2021, meaning the deadline for 2022 referendums targeting bills passed in the 2021 session was January 15, 2022.
2020
Citizens were required to file at least 71,321 valid signatures for initiated state statutes, at least 53,491 valid signatures for veto referendums, and at least 89,151 valid signatures for initiated constitutional amendments. Signatures needed to be submitted by July 3, 2020.
2018
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. Signatures needed to be submitted by July 6, 2018.
In 2018, the signature deadline for initiatives was extended. Proponents of the initiative to authorize casinos were given until August 24, 2018, to submit the required number of valid signatures. Proponents of the minimum wage initiative were given until August 29, 2018.[3]
2016
- See also: Petition drive deadlines, 2016
Signatures to qualify initiatives for the Arkansas ballot are due four months prior to the November election date in even-numbered years. Thus, the deadline to submit signatures for an initiated constitutional amendment, statute or veto referendum for the 2014 ballot was July 11, 2016.[4]
2014
Signatures to qualify initiatives for the Arkansas ballot are due four months prior to the November election date in even-numbered years. Thus, the deadline to submit signatures for an initiated constitutional amendment, statute or veto referendum for the 2014 ballot is July 7, 2014.[5]
2012
Signatures to qualify initiatives for the Arkansas ballot are due four months prior to the November election date in even-numbered years. Thus, the deadline to submit signatures for an initiated constitutional amendment, statute or veto referendum for the 2012 ballot was July 6, 2012.[6]
See also
- Laws governing the initiative process in Arkansas
- History of I & R in Arkansas
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Arkansas
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2010 Election Results," accessed April 22, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2010 Initiatives and Referenda: Facts and Information for the 2010 General Election," accessed July 14, 2015
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff writer, telephone communication with the Arkansas Secretary of State's office, July 31, 2018
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Initiative and Referenda Handbook," accessed November 19, 2013
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Initiative and Referenda Handbook," accessed November 19, 2013
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff writer, "Telephone interview with office of Arkansas secretary of state," January 24, 2011
