SJR21
A Constitutional Amendment Concerning The Vote Requirements For Initiated Acts And Constitutional Amendments To Be Considered Approved At The General Election.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 21 is a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to modify the vote thresholds required for the approval of initiated acts and constitutional amendments in Arkansas. If passed by the legislature, the proposal would be submitted to Arkansas voters for approval or rejection at the next general election. The primary purpose of the resolution is to establish new requirements for how many votes are necessary for a ballot measure to be considered officially adopted by the electorate. The text provided functions as a legislative vehicle to initiate the constitutional amendment process but does not specify the exact numerical threshold being proposed.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries would be the members of the Arkansas General Assembly and political factions that favor higher hurdles for direct democracy, as this bill aims to consolidate control over the state's constitutional and legislative amendment process. Supporters of the proposal would argue that increased vote requirements lead to greater stability and deliberation in the state's governing documents.
Who Might Suffer?
The groups most directly and negatively impacted would be citizens' advocacy groups, grassroots organizations, and individual voters who utilize the initiative process to bypass the legislature to enact laws or constitutional changes. By increasing the difficulty of passing ballot measures, this resolution potentially disenfranchises voters and groups who rely on direct democracy to pursue policy changes that may not be supported by the legislative majority.
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