Gambling Legislation

Arkansas Secretary of State Trying To Thwart Casino Vote

Arkansas Secretary of State Trying To Thwart Casino Vote

John Thurston doesn’t want certain voters’ votes to be counted on a Pope County casino measure

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston is attempting to block a vote on a contentious casino issue in Pope County from appearing on the November ballot. The proposed Amendment 2, which would determine whether the county’s casino license should be revoked, is at the center of the legal battle.

On behalf of Thurston, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a brief arguing that the procedures for gathering signatures to place the amendment on the ballot were not properly followed. According to the brief, paid canvassers were not correctly certified, and the petitions submitted to the state were not properly validated. It also highlights that paid signature gatherers improperly certified the ballots themselves rather than having them approved by the initiative sponsor, Local Voters in Charge, as required by Arkansas law.

The legal argument from Thurston’s office aligns with a similar brief filed by the current casino license holder, Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC, just days earlier. Both argue that the petition process violated state rules and, therefore, the amendment should not be considered by voters.

However, the sponsor of the ballot initiative, Local Voters in Charge, quickly responded, insisting that all signature-gathering procedures were followed properly. They point out that the special master appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court, Judge Randy Wright, had already confirmed the process and rejected signatures only where specific violations occurred. Wright’s report indicated that the initiative still had more than enough valid signatures to make the ballot.

If the court sides with Thurston, the measure will not appear on the ballot. Should it pass, the initiative would not only revoke Pope County’s casino license but also require future casinos to be approved by a county vote before any licenses are issued.

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