USAG Rejects League of Women Voters Ballot Initiative Once More

The League of Women Voters of Arkansas has resubmitted a ballot initiative they say protects direct democracy in Arkansas. This comes after being rejected by the Attorney General for a third time earlier this week on Monday.

The Arkansas Attorney General, Tim Griffin, dismissed the "protection of direct democracy" ballot measure because the title was too complex for an eighth-grader to understand.

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In his written opinion, Griffin mentions that the ballot title submitted by the League had a readability score of 12.2.

The recently approved Act 602 introduced the new eighth-grade reading proficiency standard that was discussed during the latest general assembly session.

David Couch, the attorney representing the League, stated that the amendment was crafted to prevent laws similar to Act 602 from being enacted.

"When the General Assembly enacted that legislation, their aim was primarily to prevent certain measures from being included on the ballot. Thankfully, our proposal is straightforward and unambiguous, allowing us to craft a ballot title that complies with those requirements. However, not all proposals can meet this standard," Couch stated.

Nevertheless, one of the sponsors of the bill states that this legislation simplifies the procedure for Arkansans.

"makes them easier to comprehend for the electorate, to remove legal terminology and political lingo, and to ensure this is clear for the hardworking Arkansan who doesn’t dedicate most of their time to poring over legislative summaries and constitutional statutes," stated Representative Ryan Rose.

Couch mentioned that the revised ballot title submitted on Wednesday is now at a reading level suitable for below an eighth grader. If the attorney general approves it, the league can begin gathering the necessary signatures from various parts of the state to put the measure on the ballot.

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READ THE FULL STORY: The AG once again turns down the League of Women Voters' ballot proposal.

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