In Arkansas, voters make important decisions about our state through ballot initiatives. It is a right guaranteed to us in our constitution. It is up to all of us to safeguard that right from politicians who seek to undermine it.
Issue 2 is an unnecessary initiative that takes power away from everyday Arkansans, and gives it to politicians and wealthy special interests. Protect our right to make decisions about our state — vote against Issue 2.
Learn more at: www.protectARrights.org
It’s up to us to defend the will of the people against the sore losers and bullies who want to rewrite the rules to get their way. Donate or volunteer today to help us educate voters, defend direct democracy, and defeat Issue 2 this November! We can’t do it without you.
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IN THE NEWS
VOTE 2022: A breakdown of Issue 2 in Arkansas
KAIT8 | OCT. 17, 2022
With election season just around the corner, Region 8 News will begin to explain what issues you could see on the ballot.
One of those issues Arkansans will see in the November election will be Issue 2.
A vote for Issue 2 means support for increasing the percentage of votes required to pass constitutional amendments and citizen-proposed state laws from a majority to 60%.
Read more here.
Protect AR Rights launches new digital ad campaign against Issue 2
KATV | Oct. 11, 2022
Protect AR Right announced Tuesday that it will launch a digital ad campaign focusing on defeating issue 2 this November.
Titled "Life On the Playground," the ad is about politicians changing the rules to get their way, according to a news release.
"It's a lesson straight out of 4th grade," the ad explains. "Someone can't win fairly, so they try to change the rules to get their way. These days, too many politicians are like that. When we make decisions through ballot initiatives that politicians don't like, some act like sore losers and try to rewrite the initiative rules, undermining the principle of one person, one vote — ending majority rule, letting just 41 percent overrule the will of the people. Protect the will of the people. Vote against Issue 2."
State lawmakers think you’re dumb enough to vote for Issue 2
ARKANSAS TIMES | OCT. 11, 2022
Arkansas voters are too dumb to be trusted with making laws, so let’s move the goalposts to make it harder for them to even try. Such is the thinking behind a ballot measure Republican Rep. David Ray of Maumelle and his fellow Koch brother stans are trying to trick you into voting for this November.
Backers of Issue 2 hope Arkansans will voluntarily hand over a chunk of the power they now have to amend the state constitution. If passed, Issue 2 will require a 60% supermajority to get constitutional amendments across the finish line, rather than the current simple majority requirement. The measure originated in the Arkansas General Assembly, which has the power to refer up to three constitutional amendments to the ballot for each general election.
Sides disagree on Issue 2: Needed reform, or attack on democracy?
Talk Business | Sept. 25, 2022
Groups are forming on both sides of Issue 2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to amend the Arkansas Constitution and for voters to pass an initiated act.
The proposed amendment would increase the majority needed to pass amendments from the current simple majority to 60%. The 60% threshold would apply to amendments initiated by citizens as well as those referred to voters by legislators.
Issue 2 also would increase the required threshold for passage of initiated acts from a simple majority to 60%. An initiated act is a law placed on the ballot by citizens after a signature gathering process that then is passed by voters.
Read more: https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/sides-disagree-on-issue-2-needed-reform-or-attack-on-democracy/
Activists move against increase of vote threshold in Arkansas, saying it stifles power
arkansas democrat-gazette | Sept. 23, 2022
Activists are beginning a campaign against a ballot question that would increase the percentage threshold needed for Arkansas voters to approve an amendment to the state's constitution.
The proposed amendment, known as Issue 2, would increase the threshold to pass constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives from a simple majority to 60%. The increased threshold would apply to amendments and initiatives proposed both by voters through petitions and by the state Legislature.
Protect AR Rights, a newly formed group opposed to the referendum, criticized Issue 2 during a news conference Thursday.
"We are opposed to any power being taken from the people, any power being restricted, any power hampered, any power in any way diminished," said Kwami Abdul-Bey, elections coordinator for the Arkansas Public Policy Panel.
Read more here.
Coalition forms against proposed changes to Arkansas ballot initiative process
KUAR | SEPT. 22, 2022
A coalition of nonprofit groups has formed in opposition to a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution on the November ballot.
The group, called Protect Arkansas Rights, opposes Issue 2 which would raise the number of votes needed to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives as well as constitutional amendments proposed by both citizens and state lawmakers.
Kwami Abdul-Bey, elections coordinator for the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, says a number of crucial state laws directly resulted from the state’s ballot initiative process.
“What we’re doing now, and what has been done for 100 years, is fine,” Abdul-Bey said. “We’ve passed very beneficial laws such as minimum wage, voting machines, we’ve gotten rid of the poll tax all through initiatives that the people have passed.”
If approved, Issue 2 would require 60% approval for all citizen-led ballot initiatives and proposed constitutional amendments to pass. Both currently require support of 50% plus one vote for approval.S
Group forms to defeat measure that would weaken Arkansans’ votes
Arkansas Times | Sept. 12, 2022
The Arkansas Public Policy Panel is stepping up to fight a constitutional amendment that would make it harder for citizens to pass constitutional amendments by requiring the measures to secure at least 60% of the vote.
The Public Policy Panel formed the committee Friday, pledging to educate voters about the amendment, which was referred to the ballot after overwhelming votes by the state legislature earlier this year.
Read more here.