7 Questions on Nov. 8 ballot to vex voters

Every two years Arkansans are asked to vote on issues affecting the state’s Constitution and the ways state laws work.

This November there are seven statewide ballot measures certified for the Nov. 8 ballot.

Three of these seven were referred to the public by the Legislature. They are, as follows and as they appear in order on the ballot.

Issue No. 1: Terms, election and eligibility of elected officials.

Issue No. 2: Allowing the governor to retain power and duties when absent from the state.

Issue No. 3: Job creation, job expansion and economic development.

The fourth Constitutional question on the November ballot is a public initiative — an issue proposed by petition from the people of Arkansas.

Issue No. 4: Medical-injury lawsuit laws.

Next week I will take up issues 5, 6, and 7 — the casino amendment and both the questions pertaining to medical marijuana.

Most of the information for this article, regarding ballot titles and what each issue means, comes from a non-partisan, unbiased research-based guide to the 2016 Arkansas ballot issues from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension Public Policy Center publication, available at area County Extension Offices – free of charge. The 50-page booklet is indeed great reading on what is on/in these issues on the ballot.

Issue No. 1

“Proposing an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution concerning the terms, election and eligibility of elected officials.”

If you vote FOR, you are agreeing to allowing four-year terms for elected county officials; preventing certain county officials from also being appointed or elected to a civil office; allowing unopposed candidates to be elected without their name appearing on the ballot; and defining what “infamous crime” means in regards to who is not allowed to hold an elected position.

If you vote AGAINST, you are not in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution regarding one or all of these proposals.

Issue No. 2

“A Constitutional Amendment to allow the governor to retain his or her powers and duties when absent from the state.”

Currently if the governor travels outside the state the lieutenant governor or other elected officials are in charge of state government until the governor returns.

If you vote FOR, you are in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution to allow the governor to remain in power when leaving the state.

If you vote AGAINST, you are not in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution to allow the governor to remain in power when leaving the state.

Issue No. 3

“An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution concerning job creation, job expansion and economic development.”

There are six parts to this question.

If you vote FOR, you are in favor of changing

the Arkansas Constitution regarding all six components. Those six items are:

• (1) removing the 5 percent of state general revenue cap on bond issues for large economic development projects

• (2) allowing counties and municipalities to obtain or provide money for other entities to support economic development projects or services (i.e. chamber of commerce or economic improvement districts)

• (3) clarifying the authority of counties and municipalities to issue bonds for economic development projects

• (4) allowing the use of other taxes to pay off bond debt

• (5) removing the requirement that economic development bonds may be sold only at public sale

• (6) allowing local governments to form compacts for economic development projects.

If you vote AGAINST this question, you are not in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution regarding one or more of the above proposals.

Issue No. 4

“An amendment to limit attorney contingency fees and non-economic damages in medical lawsuits.”

This issue is still in court.

If you vote FOR, you are in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution regarding all of the components proposed, including prohibiting attorneys from charging clients

more than one-third of the amount of money received in medical-injury lawsuits and allowing the legislature to establish a maximum dollar amount that people can receive in medical-injury lawsuits for non-economic damages, as long as the maximum is not less than $250,000.

If you vote AGAINST, you are not in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution regarding one or more of the above proposals.

Next week: Casinos and Medical Marijuana issues, Nos. 5, 6, and 7.