Arkansans for Limited Government has accused Secretary of State John Thurston of acting unlawfully after rejecting the signatures they submitted for a November ballot measure aimed at expanding abortion access in Arkansas. The group claims they did meet all the requirements, including providing a list of paid canvassers and required affidavits, which Thurston disputes.
The group had submitted 101,525 signatures, surpassing the 90,704 required threshold. However, 14,135 signatures were collected by paid canvassers, leading to additional scrutiny. There have been claims that the requirements for paid canvassers were added in 2013 after Republicans gained control, making it harder for voter-driven initiatives to qualify.
Despite the dispute, experts believe that ultimately, the state’s Supreme Court will have to decide whether the abortion measure will appear on the November ballot. Janine Parry, an expert on direct democracy, believes that it will be a challenging battle ahead for both sides.
Arkansans for Limited Government and their supporters are prepared for a tough fight, as they believe the court may ultimately side with the administration. Bettina Brownstein, an Arkansas attorney supporting the amendment, is skeptical about the court’s decision but remains hopeful. The situation reflects a larger trend of challenges faced by voter-driven initiatives in Arkansas, according to experts.
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