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SB 569

GOVERNMENT-TECH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Don Harmon

Senate Bill 569 aimed to make Arkansas ballot titles clearer and concise, enhancing voter understanding by limiting titles to 500 words for better-informed voting.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 569

Summary of Senate Bill 569 (SB 569)

Purpose and Intent

Senate Bill 569 (SB 569) aimed to amend the Arkansas Constitution to establish clearer guidelines for the titles of proposed measures on ballots. The primary intent was to ensure that ballot titles are readable, clear, and concise, with a maximum length of 500 words. This amendment sought to enhance voter understanding and engagement in the electoral process.

Key Provisions

  • Ballot Title Requirements: The bill proposed that all ballot titles for proposed measures must be:

    • Readable
    • Clear
    • Concise
    • Limited to a maximum of 500 words

  • Submission Process: The bill outlined that:

    • Petitioners must submit the exact title to be used on the ballot at the time of filing petitions.
    • For statewide measures, titles would be certified by the State Board of Election Commissioners and submitted to the Secretary of State.
    • For county and municipal measures, titles would be submitted to the respective county election boards.

  • Legislative Authority: The bill expressed the General Assembly's belief that the Arkansas Supreme Court should interpret Article 5, Section 1 of the Arkansas Constitution to allow the General Assembly to amend constitutional amendments with a two-thirds vote.

Affected Parties

  • Voters: The primary beneficiaries of this bill would have been Arkansas voters, who would have clearer and more concise information regarding the measures they are voting on.
  • Election Officials: The bill would have impacted how election officials manage and certify ballot titles, potentially requiring new processes or standards for readability.

Legislative Timeline

  • Introduced: March 27, 2025
  • Senate Actions:
    • Passed in the Senate on April 14, 2025.
    • Returned by the Committee with a recommendation to pass on April 10, 2025.
  • House Actions:
    • Read and referred to the Committee on State Agencies & Governmental Affairs on April 15, 2025.
    • Failed to pass in the House on April 16, 2025.
  • Final Status: The bill died on the House calendar at sine die adjournment on May 5, 2025.

Conclusion

Senate Bill 569 was an effort to improve the clarity and accessibility of ballot titles in Arkansas, aiming to foster better-informed voting. Despite its passage in the Senate, the bill ultimately did not progress through the House and was not enacted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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