Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Saline County Ballot Petition
A Saline County Circuit Court judge has issued a written order dismissing a lawsuit that challenged County Clerk Doug Curtis’s rejection of a proposed paper ballot ordinance. This ordinance aimed to allow voters to decide whether elections in the county should be conducted using hand-counted paper ballots.
Background of the Suit
The lawsuit was one of nine filed against clerks in various counties, including Cleburne, Conway, Independence, Johnson, Perry, Saline, Sharp, Van Buren, and White. The lawsuits were a response to the clerks’ decisions to reject petitions for the hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballot ordinance.
Earlier, a hearing was held in Saline County Circuit Court, where Judge Josh Farmer upheld County Clerk Doug Curtis’s decision to reject the petition. The judge’s ruling was based on the argument that the proposed ordinance conflicted with Arkansas law.
Other Legal Developments in Saline County
In another legal matter, a dispute between Saline County Assessor Jessica A. Goodman and the Saline County Commission revolves around employee compensation and the classification of the county. Goodman had declared a paid day off for her employees, but the Commission refused to authorize payment. The case explores the Commission’s authority and the proper classification of Saline County.
