Ballot initiative mechanics in Arkansas

This page covers Arkansas's specific rules. For the general mechanics, see how ballot initiatives work. Arkansas allows citizens to propose constitutional amendments, initiated acts (statutes), and veto referendums.

Arkansas's process

Before circulating anything, an Arkansas sponsor must submit the full measure text and a proposed ballot title to the Attorney General for approval. Only after that clears can signature-gathering begin.

The signature threshold depends on the type of measure: 10 percent of the votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election for a constitutional amendment (90,704 signatures for 2026), 8 percent for an initiated act (72,563 for 2026), or 6 percent for a veto referendum. Signatures must also come from at least 15 of Arkansas's 75 counties. A 2023 law tried to raise that to 50 counties, but a state judge blocked the change as unconstitutional in February 2026, restoring the original 15-county rule. Unlike many other initiative states, Arkansas has no single-subject requirement, so a single measure can cover more than one topic.

Deadlines and numbers

• Constitutional amendment: 10 percent of last gubernatorial vote (90,704 for 2026)
• Initiated act: 8 percent of last gubernatorial vote (72,563 for 2026)
• Veto referendum: 6 percent of last gubernatorial vote
• Geographic distribution: signatures from at least 15 of Arkansas's 75 counties
• Filing deadline: four months before the election (July 3, 2026 for the 2026 cycle)
• Pre-circulation step: Attorney General approval of ballot title and full text

Where to go

• Attorney General ballot initiative information: https://arkansasag.gov/divisions/opinions-foia/ballot-initiative-information/
• Secretary of State Initiatives and Referenda Handbook (PDF): https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/2025-2026_I_R_Handbook_-_December_2025_(00000005)_Final_copy_12.31_.25_.pdf

Rules

Arkansas's process has a distinctive gatekeeping step up front: the Attorney General has to approve the ballot title and text before anyone can start collecting signatures, which is a heavier lift than some states that let sponsors circulate first and face legal challenges later. The 15-county distribution rule has recently been a live political fight. Lawmakers raised it to 50 counties in 2023, which would have made rural, low-population signature-gathering effectively impossible to satisfy at scale, and a judge struck that down in February 2026. That ruling could still be appealed, so sponsors should confirm the current county count before relying on it.

The lack of a single-subject rule is unusual among initiative states and means Arkansas measures can be broader in scope than what's allowed elsewhere. This dossier did not confirm whether a filing fee applies to sponsors. That gap should be checked directly with the Secretary of State's office. For help planning a signature campaign, see /engage.