Arkansas Secretary of State Rejects November Abortion-Rights Ballot Measure

Jul 11, 2024, 03:36 AM

Arkansas election officials have rejected petitions submitted for an abortion-rights ballot measure that organizers hoped to put before voters this fall. The Arkansas Secretary of State, John Thurston, a Republican, cited a failure to comply with all statutory requirements for submitting the petition. The rejection was based on a procedural error, specifically the failure to submit some required paperwork with the signatures. Despite this setback, the Arkansas for Life Group (AFLG) noted that 101,525 Arkansas voters had shown support for the measure. Internal discussions on how to proceed are ongoing. The measure aimed to place a constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights on the November ballot.