Arkansas Supreme Court boots ballot issues

Arkansas Supreme Court boots ballot issues

Votes on Issue 1, Issue 3 will not be counted in the midterm election following rulings

With early voting on the horizon, the Arkansas Supreme Court made an 11th-hour ruling on Friday that Issue 1 and Issue 3 will not be counted in the midterm elections. However, due to the late nature of the decision, they will remain on the ballots.

Issue 1 would have limited punitive damages in lawsuits involving serious injury or death, which ultimately would put a cap on how much lawyers can collect in fees. Justices upheld a state judge's ruling that the ballot measure unconstitutionally combined separate proposals.

Issue 3 limited lawmakers to three two-year terms in the House and two fouryear terms in the Senate.

The court rejected the proposal after a lawsuit was filed that challenged the signature-gathering process. The court decided there was an insufficient number of signatures.

As for issues that will be counted, Issue 2, Issue 4, and Issue 5 will be put before voters do decide.

Issue 2 — A Constitutional Amendment Adding as a Qualification to Vote that a Voter Present Certain Valid Photographic Identification when Casting a Ballot In Person or Casting an Absentee Ballot

This proposed amendment asks voters to change Article 3 of the Arkansas Constitution to amend the qualifications residents must meet in order to vote in an election in this state.

If approved by voters, this amendment would:

• Require legislators to pass a law establishing that voters must present photo identification before receiving a ballot to vote in person. Residents voting by way of an absentee ballot would be required to enclose a copy of a valid photo identification with their ballot.

• Require the state to issue photo identification at no charge to a voter who does not have identification that meets the requirements established by legislators and allow a voter without valid photo identification to vote using a provisional ballot, with the ballot counting only if the voter follows the steps required by state law to certify the ballot.

Issue 4 – An Amendment to Require Four Licenses to be Issued for Casino Gaming at Casinos, One Each in Crittenden, Garland, Pope, and Jefferson Counties

This amendment asks voters to add a section to the Arkansas Constitution to authorize four casinos to operate in the state. If approved by voters, this amendment would:

• Authorize four casinos to operate in the state, one in Jefferson County within two miles of Pine Bluff, one in Pope County within two miles of Russellville, one at or adjacent to Oaklawn Jockey Club in Garland County, and one at or adjacent to Southland Racing Corporation in Crittenden County.

• Require the Arkansas Racing Commission to fund and work with Department of Human Services to implement and administer compulsive gambling disorder educational programs.

• Allow the casinos to operate any day, all day, serving alcohol during all hours in which gaming takes place, regardless of whether the casino is located in a dry city or county.

the Arkansas Minimum Wage

This initiated act would increase the state minimum wage from $8.50 to $9.25 per hour on Jan. 1, 2019, to $10 per hour on Jan. 1, 2020, and increase the state minimum wage to $11 per hour on Jan. 1, 2021.

Election Day 2018 is just two weeks away, but Crittenden County voters who want to beat the crowds on Tuesday, Nov. 6, can head to the Crittenden County Courthouse for early and absentee voting.

Early voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All early voting will be held at the courthouse.

An ID is required to vote both for early voting and on Election Day.

Issue 5 – An Act to In-crease