Signatures submitted for Arkansas ballot measure on initiative process

Arkansas officials are reviewing thousands of signatures submitted in favor of a proposal to preserve the state’s initiative and referendum process to determine if it’ll qualify for the November ballot

Protect AR Rights submitted 108,837 signatures Friday to the secretary of state’s office for its proposal, the Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment of 2026. The measure needs at least 90,704 valid signatures from registered voters to get on the ballot.

“Today’s submission is a testament to what people can accomplish when they come together to defend democracy,” Dara Gaines, field director for the campaign, said in a statement Friday.

The secretary of state’s office has hired 15 people to assist in reviewing the petitions, spokesperson Samantha Boyd said. Reviewing the petitions could take a few weeks, she said.




https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/07/06/signatures-submitted-for-arkansas-ballot-measure-on-initiative-process/