Issue 2 Would Require Local Approval For New Casinos

State Issue 2, concerning construction of a casino in Pope County that was part of a 2018 statewide ballot issue, is the most publicized of the issues that will be on the Nov. 5 ballot.The following information is gleaned from the 2024 Voter Guide - Ballot Issues published by the Public Policy Center of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. The 2024 Voter Guide gives a balanced overview of all issues that will be on the general election ballot. It provides arguments both for and against each issue: Popular Name: An amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licenses and repealing authority to issue a casino license in Pope County, Arkansas.How did it get on the ballot: Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizen groups can with voter petitions put a proposed constitutional amendment, state law, or veto referendum on the ballot.Constitutional amendments require verified voter signatures from at least 10 percent of the number of people who voted for governor in the last election, with a certain percentage coming from at least 50 of the state's 75 counties. In 2024, ballot issue groups needed signatures from at least 90,704 voters to qualify for the ballot. This proposal was included on the statewide ballot distributed by the Secretary of State on Aug. 22 to county election officials. However, the ballot issue’s status is uncertain. Opponents filed a lawsuit seeking to remove the proposal from the ballot.Should Issue 2 be approved by voters, Pope County’s casino license could not be used by another county since the state constitution amendment allowing specifically mentions Pope County. Passage of Issue 2 would have no impact on existing casinos in the state. If approved, the changes listed in Issue 2  would take effect Nov. 13, 2024.What Would Issue 2 Do?...