In a recent ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court, the casino amendment proposed by the group Driving Arkansas Forward is one step closer to being included on the November ballot. The court ruled that Secretary of State John Thurston must accept the group’s signatures for verification, after originally rejecting them due to a technical error.
The casino amendment, if passed, would allow for the construction of three new casinos in the state, one each in Jefferson, Pope, and Crittenden counties. Proponents of the amendment argue that it would bring much-needed jobs and revenue to these areas, while opponents are concerned about the potential negative impact on local communities.
The dispute over the signatures arose when Thurston rejected them for not including the full text of the amendment on the petition. However, Driving Arkansas Forward argued that the text was readily available to voters on the group’s website and social media pages, and that the signatures should still be accepted.
In a 5-2 decision, the Arkansas Supreme Court agreed with Driving Arkansas Forward, stating that the Secretary of State’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious.” The court ordered Thurston to accept and verify the signatures, bringing the amendment one step closer to appearing on the ballot in November.
This ruling is a significant victory for Driving Arkansas Forward and its supporters, who have been pushing for the casino amendment to be included on the ballot. The group has argued that the new casinos would create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in revenue for the state.
Opponents of the amendment, including some religious and conservative groups, have raised concerns about the social and economic impact of the new casinos. They argue that gambling can lead to addiction, crime, and other negative consequences for communities.
With the court’s ruling, the casino amendment now faces the final hurdle of being approved by voters in November. Supporters and opponents will continue to make their case to the public in the coming months, as Arkansans prepare to decide the fate of the proposed casinos.