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Senate sends citizens-only voting amendment to referendum, votes to hold measure 24 hours
Summary
The Arkansas Senate voted to refer a proposed constitutional amendment to voters that would require U.S. citizenship for state and local voting, then voted to hold the referral for 24 hours while the House completes parallel action.
The Arkansas Senate on [date] voted to refer a proposed constitutional amendment that would restrict state and local voting to U.S. citizens, then approved a 24-hour hold to allow the House to complete related steps.
Senator Payton, the Senate sponsor, said the proposal would “ensure only United States citizens can vote in our state and local elections,” describing it on the floor as a response to voters’ concerns about illegal immigration and a national trend of states adopting similar measures.
The measure, House Joint Resolution 1018, would amend Article 3, Section 1, of the Arkansas Constitution (qualifications of electors) to specify U.S. citizenship as a requirement for state and local elections. Payton told colleagues that similar measures have passed in other states with strong margins and cited polling he said showed more than 70% support in Arkansas.
Senators asked procedural and policy questions but offered little organized opposition on the floor. After debate, the Senate approved the referral by voice and then on a roll call recorded the final tally as 27 yeas, 0 nays, with six senators not voting or recorded as present. The body then voted to hold the measure in the Senate for 24 hours so the House could complete its agency review and related steps; that motion also carried by voice vote.
Why it matters: If certified by both chambers and later approved by voters, HJR 1018 would change the state constitution and bar noncitizens from voting in local elections as well as state contests. Backers called the change an affirmation of the principle that citizens determine civic leadership; supporters cited recent initiatives in other states. Opponents in other states have raised legal and administrative questions, and the measure — if adopted by voters — would likely be subject to judicial review.
What happens next: Because the resolution amends the state constitution, it requires referral by the General Assembly and then approval by a majority of voters in a statewide election. The Senate’s 24-hour hold leaves the measure in place while the House completes its steps; the sponsor said he expected the House to act first on related measures before final transmission.
Votes at a glance: The Senate roll call on HJR 1018 recorded 27 yeas, 0 nays, 6 not voting or present. The motion to hold HJR 1018 in the Senate for 24 hours passed by voice vote.
