2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide and Videos Explain the Constitutional Amendments

by Kristin Higgins - October 3, 2024

Arkansas voters can read up on the statewide ballot issues they're deciding Nov. 5 by downloading the 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide or watching short videos on YouTube.

The neutral voter guide allows voters to spend some time studying the proposed constitutional amendments before casting their votes. 

Inside the 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide, you will find:

• How the proposals will appear on the ballot
• What a “FOR” or “AGAINST” vote means
• Questions and answers about what proposals would do
• Supporter and opponent viewpoints

When casting their votes, Arkansans see the popular name and ballot title of each proposed constitutional amendment. But every amendment involves more information that is not included on the ballot.

Voters can find the full text of each proposal proposals on our issue websites as well links to agency documents showing who has officially filed to support or oppose an issue.

What are the 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issues?

Early voting starts Oct. 21 in Arkansas for the 2024 November General Election.

At the end of the ballot, voters may see three proposed constitutional amendments that seek to alter the state's 1874 Constitution in one way or another. This year, all three proposals involve constitutional amendments voters approved within the past 15 years.

One of the proposals came from the legislature while two proposal came from citizen-led ballot issue groups. The Arkansas Supreme Court is currently reviewing the two citizen initiatives because of court challenges.

Issue 1 seeks to expand the types of scholarships funded by the Arkansas Lottery. In addition to two-and-four-year colleges and universities in the existing amendment approved in 2008, the proposal seeks to fund vocational and technical institute scholarships. 

Issue 2 seeks to remove the Pope County casino license voters authorized in 2018 and to require county-wide elections if voters statewide approve additional casino licenses in the future.

Issue 3 seeks to change the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment voters approved in 2016. Changes include the types of medical care providers who can certify a patient, the types of conditions a patient must have to qualify for a medical marijuana card, and allowing cardholders 21 years and older to grow a limited number of cannabis plants at home. The proposal would also prohibit the legislature from making changes to constitutional amendments without another vote of the people. 

About Our Materials

Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments, state laws and veto referendums on the ballot for voters to decide. These are often called ballot measures, ballot issues, or citizen initiatives. Legislators also have the right to refer up to three constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot.

Since 2004, the Public Policy Center has published unbiased fact sheets on statewide ballot measures so voters have a better understanding of what is being asked of them on Election Day. The fact sheets go through a vetting process that includes reviews by issue supporters and opponents.

In 2022, we distributed 40,000 ballot issue voter guides across Arkansas' 75 counties. Our ballot issue education web pages attracted 346,972 unique visitors who recorded 432,615 page views between Sept. 1-Nov. 11, 2022. Find past voter guides in our archive.