Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Oct. 18, 2024 – With early voting around the corner, numerous statewide issues will appear on the ballots as Craighead County voters begin to cast their votes Monday.
Here is a quick run-through of the three proposals that affect laws on scholarship funding, casinos and medical marijuana laws in Arkansas, according to information on the University of Arkansas’s voter education website.
Legislative proposal
Issue No. 1, also known as “A Constitutional Amendment to Provide that Lottery Proceeds May Be Used to Fund or Provide Scholarships and Grants to Arkansas Citizens Enrolled in Vocational-Technical Schools and Technical Institutes”, is a legislative proposal sponsored by Rep. Robin Lundstrum of Elm Springs and Sen. Jane English of North Little Rock.
Arkansas senators and representatives voted to place Issue No. 1 on the 2024 General Election Ballot, during the last legislative session. While the Arkansas Constitution grants the legislature the right to include up to three constitutional amendments on the general election ballot, constitutional amendments currently require the approval of a majority of voters in a statewide election.
If passed, this will allow the state constitution to be changed to allow proceeds from lottery ticket sales to fund scholarships and grants at vocational-technical schools and technical institutes. The proceeds are currently limited to students attending public or private non-profit two or four-year colleges and universities.
Citizen-led proposals
Two proposals were submitted by citizen-led ballot issue groups to place their constitutional amendments on the November ballot for voters to decide statewide, these include:
Issue No. 2
The first of these citizen proposals is Issue No. 2, “An amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licenses and repealing authority to issue a casino license in Pope County, Arkansas.”
If passed, the state constitution would be changed to remove the Pope County casino gaming license from the Arkansas Constitution and, should any future amendments authorizing additional casino licenses be approved by a statewide vote, requiring a special election and approval of voters in the county where that casino would be located to approve it. If Issue No. 2 does not pass, then the Pope County casino gaming license would remain in the Arkansas Constitution.
Although this issue was challenged, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected all challenges to Issue 2 on Oct. 17 and votes cast for or against this issue will be counted.
Issue No. 3
Issue No 3, also known as the “Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024” is currently under review by the Arkansas Supreme Court.
The issue proposes changing Article 5, Section 1 of the Arkansas Constitution, titled “Initiative and Referendum,” to prohibit legislators from changing or repealing constitutional amendments without approval from voters unless the amendment expressly allows them to do so. It also proposes adding and removing sections of Amendment 98 – The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016.
Therefore, if passed, the Arkansas Constitution would be changed to prohibit legislators from changing or repealing any constitutional amendment without another vote of the people, and it will expand the state’s existing medical marijuana program with regards to who can qualify for the program, the types of health care professionals who can certify patients for the program, and allow patients to grow marijuana at home, among other changes.
Election Day is Nov. 5, 2024.