Arkansas ballot

Issue No. 1 is a constitutional amendment referred to voters by the 95th General Assembly (HJR 1018 (Rep. Ray), 2025 regular session). Popular name: A Constitutional Amendment to be Known as "The Citizens Only Voting Amendment" and Providing That Only a Citizen of the United States Meeting the Qualifications of an Elector Under the Arkansas Constitution May Vote in an Election in this State. A vote FOR adopts the amendment, which per its ballot title provides that only a U.S. citizen meeting the qualifications of an elector under the Arkansas Constitution may vote in an election in Arkansas, and that a person who does not meet those qualifications shall not be permitted to vote in any state or local election. A vote AGAINST leaves Article 3, § 1 of the Arkansas Constitution (qualifications of electors) unchanged.

A yes vote: A vote FOR adopts the amendment, which per its ballot title provides that only a U.S. citizen meeting the qualifications of an elector under the Arkansas Constitution may vote in an election in Arkansas, and that a person who does not meet those qualifications shall not be permitted to vote in any state or local election.

A no vote: A vote AGAINST leaves Article 3, § 1 of the Arkansas Constitution (qualifications of electors) unchanged.

Issue No. 2 is a constitutional amendment referred to voters by the 95th General Assembly (SJR 11 (Sen. J. Payton), 2025 regular session). Popular name: A Constitutional Amendment to Amend Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, to Protect the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. A vote FOR amends Article 2, § 5 so that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms for their common defense, lawful hunting and recreational use, and any other lawful purpose; the right would include possession and use of ammunition, firearm accessories and firearm components and would be declared a natural, fundamental and individual right that shall not be infringed. Effective Jan. 1, 2027. A vote AGAINST leaves the current Article 2, § 5 unchanged (the citizens' right to keep and bear arms for their common defense).

A yes vote: A vote FOR amends Article 2, § 5 so that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms for their common defense, lawful hunting and recreational use, and any other lawful purpose; the right would include possession and use of ammunition, firearm accessories and firearm components and would be declared a natural, fundamental and individual right that shall not be infringed. Effective Jan. 1, 2027.

A no vote: A vote AGAINST leaves the current Article 2, § 5 unchanged (the citizens' right to keep and bear arms for their common defense).

Issue No. 3 is a constitutional amendment referred to voters by the 95th General Assembly (SJR 15 (Sen. J. Dismang), 2025 regular session). Popular name: A Constitutional Amendment Concerning Economic Development in the State of Arkansas; and Authorizing the General Assembly to Provide for the Creation of Economic Development Districts Within Cities, Counties, or Cooperative Areas to Promote Economic Development Within the Economic Development District. A vote FOR adopts the amendment, which per its text would let the General Assembly create programs and make loans and grants of public money for economic development, job creation, transportation/commerce and real estate development, including creating economic development districts within cities, counties or cooperative areas; such districts could issue bonds not counted against certain constitutional debt limits; property within a district would be exempt from taxes other than those levied by the district (existing exempt property keeps its status); local governments could fund or lend credit to districts. Effective Jan. 1, 2027. A vote AGAINST leaves the existing constitutional provisions on public loans, grants and local economic development financing unchanged; no economic development district authority would be added.

A yes vote: A vote FOR adopts the amendment, which per its text would let the General Assembly create programs and make loans and grants of public money for economic development, job creation, transportation/commerce and real estate development, including creating economic development districts within cities, counties or cooperative areas; such districts could issue bonds not counted against certain constitutional debt limits; property within a district would be exempt from taxes other than those levied by the district (existing exempt property keeps its status); local governments could fund or lend credit to districts. Effective Jan. 1, 2027.

A no vote: A vote AGAINST leaves the existing constitutional provisions on public loans, grants and local economic development financing unchanged; no economic development district authority would be added.

Issue No. 4 asks voters to approve the Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2025 (Act 578 of 2025, Sen. Hester), referred by the General Assembly. A vote FOR authorizes the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to issue up to $500 million in state general obligation bonds, backed by the full faith and credit of the state, for water, waste disposal, pollution control, drainage, irrigation, flood control and wetlands projects (no more than $165 million for irrigation; no more than $60 million per two-year period without legislative approval). A vote AGAINST does not authorize the bonds.

A yes vote: A vote FOR authorizes the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to issue up to $500,000,000 in general obligation bonds secured by the full faith and credit of the State for water, waste disposal, water pollution control, drainage, irrigation, flood control, and wetlands and aquatic resources projects, with no more than $165,000,000 for irrigation and no more than $60,000,000 in any two-year period without prior General Assembly approval.

A no vote: A vote AGAINST does not authorize issuance of these general obligation bonds.