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Committee advances bill to require signatures from at least 50 counties for ballot questions
Summary
House Bill 1419, presented as the 'Ensuring Access for All Arkansans and Voter Protection Act,' would raise the number of counties that must contribute petition signatures for ballot initiatives from the constitutional floor of 15 to at least 50; the bill drew sustained debate over whether it effectively alters the constitution and whether it helps or hinders rural representation.
Senator Jim Dodson introduced House Bill 1419 to the Senate State Agencies Committee, describing it as a proposal to require petitioners seeking ballot access for constitutional amendments and initiated acts to collect valid signatures from at least 50 counties rather than relying on the constitutional floor of 15 counties.
Dodson said the change is intended to broaden geographic representation and help ensure petitions reflect…
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