Lawsuit Against Saline Clerk Over Rejection of Proposed Paper Ballot Ordinance Dismissed
A lawsuit filed against Saline County Clerk Doug Curtis regarding his decision to reject a proposed paper ballot ordinance has been dismissed. This suit is part of seven similar lawsuits filed by the Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative (AVII) after county clerks across the state rejected their petitions for hand-marked paper ballots.
These rejections were based on insufficient signatures and concerns about the misleading language and omissions in the proposed ordinance. The Saline County clerk, along with others, noted that the petitions were misleading in their language and lacked material information. Additionally, the clerks found issues with the canvassers who collected signatures, many of whom resided out of state, which is against Arkansas law.
The lawsuits argue that the clerks overstepped their authority by not simply rubber-stamping the submissions and placing them on the ballot. However, the clerks’ rejections were based on the substance and technical issues with the petitions. The controversy stems from the Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative’s push for hand-marked paper ballots, which, if passed, would conflict with state law allowing quorum courts to decide on voting methods.
The issue highlights the tension between initiative petitions and the authority of local government bodies in setting election procedures. As the paper-ballot initiative continues to face legal challenges, the fate of this proposed change to voting practices in Arkansas remains uncertain.