How many constitutional amendments will Arkansas voters consider in November? At least three and as many as six, though probably not that many.

The three that definitely will be on the ballot were referred by lawmakers last year. 

One would amend the Arkansas Constitution’s guarantee of the “right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense” by adding the words “lawful hunting and recreational use; and any other lawful purpose.” It also would include as part of that right the possession and use of ammunition and firearm accessories and components.

Another proposal states that only United States citizens can vote in Arkansas, which is already a constitutional requirement. 

The third would allow cities and counties to create economic development districts. For example, a city could create tax incentives to encourage construction in a decayed area.

Meanwhile, three citizen groups seek to qualify amendments for the ballot. 

While legislatively referred amendments have a guaranteed spot, citizen groups have much to overcome. They must first qualify their ballot language through the attorney general. They must then collect at least 90,704 registered voters’ signatures by July 3. Then they must survive the legal challenges that often can invalidate their work because of a technical error. Legislators have erected laws making the process more difficult in recent years, some of which the courts have struck down.

Citizen-led groups often work through the initiative process because they couldn’t pass their measures through the Legislature. Arkansas legislators would not have approved casinos, legalized medical marijuana, or increased the minimum wage, and they would not have limited their own terms in 1992. But Arkansas voters did all those things.

Three groups are collecting signatures this year. Two seek to protect the citizen initiative process itself. Another seeks to make major changes to Arkansas’ education system.

Save AR Democracy, which is backed by the League of Women Voters, would reform the initiative process. It would bar legislators from changing a constitutional amendment that voters have approved. Currently they can do so with a two-thirds vote, which the Supreme Court affirmed in December. Lawmakers would not be able to propose constitutional amendments affecting the initiative or referendum process, and voters would have to approve any new law that affects those. Opponents of a ballot measure would have to challenge it within 45 days. It would require canvassers to declare under penalty of perjury that, to the best of their knowledge, each signature they collected came from a legal voter, rather than submitting an affidavit as they do now. 

The proposal also would require lawmakers to vote on a bill’s emergency clause 24 hours after voting on the bill itself. An emergency clause lets a bill take effect immediately. The Constitution clearly requires a separate vote, but lawmakers have long ignored that requirement, and the Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled they can.

Another group, Protect AR Rights, also seeks to protect the initiative process, but it has some different specifics. It also would bar the Legislature from amending an amendment approved by voters, while also explicitly allowing city councils and quorum courts to amend local measures. The proposal also would change the canvassers’ affidavit requirement to a declaration. It would require opponents to file lawsuits within 10 days after the secretary of state’s office publishes the proposal on its website and in a statewide newspaper. The Supreme Court would be required to quickly review lawsuits and quickly notify sponsors of minor errors, giving them 10 business days to correct them. It would let all U.S. citizens collect signatures rather than only Arkansans. It would require the government to notify petition signers before it rejects their signatures and give them a chance to correct the deficiency. 

Finally, For AR Kids seeks to make major changes to the state’s education system. It would require all schools receiving state or local funds to meet the same standards of accreditation. That provision would include the private schools that are accepting students funded through the LEARNS Act’s educational freedom accounts. It also would require universal access to pre-K education for students starting at age 3; universal access to afterschool and summer programs; assistance to children within 200% of the federal poverty line; and services for students with disabilities. Finally, it would define an “adequate” education to include oral and written communication skills; knowledge of economic, social and political systems; training in academic or vocational skills; and other aspects.

Again, July 3 is the deadline for these groups to submit 90,704 valid signatures. We’ll know then if any are still in the hunt for a ballot spot. 

© 2026 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Steve Brawner’s column is syndicated to 24 news outlets in Arkansas. Email him at brawnersteve@mac.com.