Arkansas Secretary of State Challenges Pope County Casino Ballot Initiative

Allegations of Improper Signature Collection

Thurston’s brief argues that the methods used to gather signatures were flawed, asserting that paid signature collectors were not properly certified, were improperly compensated, and that petitions submitted to his office lacked correct certification. These alleged missteps, he contends, mean the initiative should not have been placed on the ballot.

A specific point of contention is that paid canvassers certified the ballots they submitted instead of obtaining approval from the ballot sponsor, Local Voters in Charge, as mandated by Arkansas law. The filing centers on the interpretation of ballot certification requirements and mirrors arguments made in a brief submitted a week earlier by Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC, the current casino license holder.

Awaiting the Supreme Court’s Decision

In a swift response, representatives of Local Voters in Charge maintained that they followed all proper procedures, a stance they say was confirmed by the special master before Thurston’s filing. Appointed by the Supreme Court in August to resolve factual disputes and expedite the legal process, Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Randy Wright submitted his final findings to the Arkansas Supreme Court on September 9.

Judge Wright’s report identified certain paid canvassers who violated Arkansas law by providing false addresses on affidavits, leading to the removal of those signatures. Despite this deduction, 110,234 signatures remained valid—well above the 90,704 required for certification. Thurston argues that Wright is mistaken in his understanding of the legal framework governing signature gathering.

The Arkansas Supreme Court has ordered all briefs to be submitted by September 26. If Amendment 2 passes, it would not only revoke the Pope County casino license but also require future casinos to obtain approval from county voters before a license can be issued.