Arkansas AG rejects proposed amendment for being 'above 8th-grade reading level'

[Jessica_Rose]

Arkansas AG rejects proposed amendment for being 'above 8th-grade reading level'

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/arkansas-ag-rejects-proposed-amendment-for-being-above-8th-grade-reading-level/ar-AA1Elm7t?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=83ad55cb9dd24e118a9f9825954a9a98&ei=38

Story by Logan Begneaud (7 May 2025)

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected an amendment proposal by the League of Women Voters (LWV) for the third time on May 5, this time citing a new law that bans ballot titles with a reading level above the eighth grade.

LWV first submitted their amendment to "protect and restore the initiative and referendum process," on March 11, aiming to prevent "legislative interference" in a variety of ways; these include prohibiting the general assembly from changing a voter-approved amendment, as well as demanding the AG approve a ballot or provide alternatives within a strict timeframe, to "prevent last-minute legal disputes."

"For years, Arkansas voters have used direct democracy to shape state policy. However, delays, legal challenges, and legislative amendments to voter-approved measures have created barriers to the process," said LWV in their amendment.

Attorney General Griffin rejected the first proposal in March due to "ambiguities in the text," before rejecting the second proposal in April for being "misleading," and now rejecting the third proposal for being written above an eighth-grade reading level.

Griffin cited Act 602, which requires ballot titles to be written at no higher than an eighth-grade reading level, and simultaneously declared an emergency. It went into effect on April 14, 2025.

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I get the feeling that the Arkansas AG just doesn't want this proposal to ever come up for a vote. I also find it interesting that state law 'requires ballot titles to be written at no higher than an eighth-grade reading level'. Well, this is Arkansas.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[persphone]

I get the feeling that the Arkansas AG just doesn't want this proposal to ever come up for a vote. I also find it interesting that state law 'requires ballot titles to be written at no higher than an eighth-grade reading level'. Well, this is Arkansas.

If this news wasn't so sad and bleak it would be, and dang, still is 'rolling on the floor laughing' level ridiculous!

[Devlyn]

The eighth grade reading level requirement is pretty standard. I've heard of it plenty of times.

[Lori Dee]

The eighth grade reading level requirement is pretty standard. I've heard of it plenty of times.

Same here. The concept is the level that most readers can comprehend. The percentage of the population that can read above that level is really quite small. I think that speaks volumes to our public education system, but the intent is to keep it simple so people understand what the amendment is really about.