Secretary of State John Thurston has responded to a lawsuit challenging his decision to reject the Arkansas Abortion Amendment petition on July 10 without counting signatures. According to Thurston, he followed the law when he rejected the petition due to a paperwork issue related to paid canvassers. Organizers with Arkansans for Limited Government turned in over 102,000 signatures, but Thurston maintained that they needed at least some of the paid canvasser signatures to meet the 90,704 threshold. The case is now before the Arkansas Supreme Court, with both sides ordered to file briefs by August 2.
Thurston argues that the court does not have jurisdiction over the case until he determines the sufficiency of the petition, a Catch-22 situation. Despite backlash over his decision, including questions about potential political motivations, Thurston remains steadfast in his defense. Critics point to a campaign donation he made to anti-abortion activists in January as a possible reason for his actions.
Thurston’s rejection of the amendment was inconsistent with Arkansas law, as the attorney general has struggled to justify. Whether his actions were politically motivated or personal belief-based remains unclear, but Thurston’s handling of the situation has drawn criticism. Regardless of the reasons behind his decision, many believe he should not be using his position for personal gain. The case continues to raise questions about transparency and fairness in the initiative process.
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Photo credit arktimes.com
