Law professor discusses legal developments in Arkansas abortion amendment case
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The secretary of state formally replied to a lawsuit from the group working to get the issue before voters.

“Arkansans for Limited Government” submitted roughly 101,000 signatures. The Secretary of State’s Office says about 87,000 of those signatures were collected by volunteer canvassers, and those signatures will count toward the nearly 91,000 requirement.

However, the 14,000 thousand collected by paid canvassers won’t count. The secretary of state cited a lack of necessary paperwork submitted along with the signatures, prompting the lawsuit from “Arkansans for Limited Government,” which says it did submit the proper paperwork.

The Arkansas Supreme Court is now left to decide officially what happens to the 14,000 signatures from the paid canvassers.

The decision is expected sooner rather than later.

“I would say within a matter of days because the final ballots have to go out in mid-to-late August,” Silverstein said. “Around Aug. 20, I believe. And so, I think the court will rule within days after the final brief is submitted.”

Speaking of a brief, each side is required to submit a brief to the Supreme Court by this Friday, Aug. 2. Then, each side is required to submit a response to the other side’s brief by the following Friday, Aug. 9. That would allow for the Supreme Court to issue its ruling.

  • Huckledebuck@sh.itjust.worksOP
    3·
    4 months ago

    “There’s a difference in the law,” Silverstein said. “Different requirements apply to paid canvassers than volunteer canvassers. That’s just the way it is. The reason the law is written that way is principally, there’s a worry that because paid canvassers have a financial interest in collecting signatures, there’s a concern that they will be more likely to make mistakes. More likely to violate the law. More likely to do something that’s unethical.”

    What i don’t understand is that if there is enough forethought by lawmakers that money corrupts, then why can’t they see it is not just petition workers that are vulnerable?