Group files court action challenging Thurston’s ballot question rejection
Arkansans for Limited Government is asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to force Secretary of State John Thurston to count petition signatures for the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
The group submitted more than 101,000 signatures on the July 5 deadline. Thurston said the group failed to identify paid canvassers by name or provide a signed statement that a copy of the secretary of state’s handbook for canvassers was provided.
AFLG said in the court filing that Thurston never told the group “what specifically was not done, done inadequately, or done wrong.”
The group asks the court to order Thurston to count the petition signatures immediately.
The ballot amendment, if approved by the voters, would have allowed abortion up to 18 weeks of pregnancy and prevented the state from banning abortion in cases of rape, incest, the mother’s health or fatal fetal anomaly.
Group vows to fight ban on “wet” signatures for voter registration
The organization Get Loud Arkansas said it will fight the State Board of Election Commission’s decision to ban electronic signatures on voter registration forms.
The decision made Monday will go before the Arkansas Legislative Council Rules Subcommittee in August.
“That’s really the way we’ve been doing it for the last decade and you know, we’re trying to maintain consistency and uniformity across the state,” Chris Madison, the State Board Election Commission Director, said in a report from THV11.
Get Loud Arkansas called the ALC subcommittee meeting the next battleground in a Facebook post.
ADE lowers the number of work hours needed for child care subsidy
The Arkansas Department of Education said families will need proof of 20 work hours, down from 30, as part of new requirements for its child care subsidy program.
The Child Care Development Fund received $125 million in federal funding in 2023, according to the ADE.
The household income determination will be updated every year instead of every two years.
“Research shows that access to high-quality child care increases a child’s readiness for school and success later in life,” ADE Secretary Jacob Oliva said. “Through LEARNS, the focus on improving access has become a priority. These changes to the CCDF grant program serve as another opportunity for more Arkansas families to achieve the necessary early learning supports for their children while they work to support their families.”
The new rules took effect July 1.
