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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 voters across the state. He emphasized the measure would not change the total signature thresholds required by the constitution but would alter the county distribution requirement.
Opponents, including Misty Orpen, executive director of Common Ground Arkansas, argued the bill functions as a constitutional change and therefore should be referred to voters. Orpen warned the change would make ballot access more expensive, could reduce direct democracy, and would not address the underlying issue of out-of-state money in campaigns; she urged the committee to "honor the vote of the Arkansas people" who in 2020 rejected a similar increase.
Senators debated both legal and practical implications. Some members said the constitution’s phrase "at least 15 counties" allows more counties to be required; others said the legislature cannot effectively make it harder for citizens to put measures on the ballot. Sponsor Dodson and supporters said the bill merely ensures broader county representation and preserves the people’s vote on the final question.
The committee held a roll-call vote; Senators Hester, Crowell, Payton, Dodson and others voted yes; Senators Flowers and Tucker recorded no. The chair announced the bill passed out of committee with a tally announced as "5 a's, 2 nays, 1 voted not voting."
