On Election Day, you'll decide more than your community leaders.
Legislators and citizen groups have proposed changes to the state constitution.
You will vote on whether to approve or reject the measures.
Issue 1
Lottery Proceed Funding for Vocational-Technical School Scholarships and Grants Amendment (2024)
The amendment is to expand the use of lottery proceeds to fund scholarships and grants for vocational-technical schools and technical institutes.
The original 2008 amendment directed lottery proceeds to be used for scholarships at public and private non-profit colleges and universities.
Since its inception in 2009, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) has provided over 720,000 scholarships, totaling $4.6 billion.
The new amendment aims to include vocational-technical schools and technical institutes in the list of eligible institutions.
This change is driven by the need to provide more educational opportunities and support for students pursuing vocational and technical training.
The amendment seeks to broaden the impact of the lottery on higher education by providing additional funding for a wider range of educational institutions and programs.
Voting For would allow lottery funds to provide scholarships to be used for scholarships.
Voting Against would keep things as they are.
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Issue 2
Countywide Voter Approval for New Casino Licenses and Repeal Casino Licenses in Pope County Initiative (2024)
The amendment aims to repeal the Pope County Casino License and would require Quorum Courts to approve and call for an election if any other county wants to add a casino.
Arkansas Issue 4 was passed in 2018 and allowed for Casino Licenses in Garland, Crittenden, Jefferson and Pope counties.
The initiative was backed by Local Voters in Charge. As per campaign finance reports up to June 30, they raised $5.3 million from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Local Voters in Charge claims that the issue was brought forth to give local voters the ability to decide if they want a casino in their county or not.
Voting For would repeal the Pope County Casino License
Voting Against would leave things as they are.
Issue 3
Medical Marijuana Expansion Initiative (2024)
The amendment aims to expand access to and protections for users of medical marijuana.
The original 2016 amendment allowed for a medical marijuana program, the growing of marijuana and the creation of dispensaries.
Over 106,871 patients have cards and $1.1 billion has been spent on medical marijuana since the program officially started.
The amendment would increase the number of healthcare professionals allowed to certify patient applications, increase the number of qualifying conditions, allow patients to grow up to 14 plants per household, allow telehealth visits to qualify for a card, remove fees to apply for a medical marijuana card, extend expiry dates from one year to three years, allow for advertising of marijuana and allow out of state medical cards to be accepted by dispensaries.
The initiative was funded and run by Arkansas for Patient Access. Major donors include Osage Creek Cultivation, NEA Green LLC, Capital City Medicinal, and Valentine Holdings.
Voting For would expand access.
Voting Against would leave the medical marijuana program as it is.