Ballot measures raising the minimum wage and seeking to allow alcohol sales statewide met signature requirements by Monday’s deadline to be on the November general election ballot. Give Arkansas a Raise Now wants to incrementally raise the minimum wage from $6.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour. Chair Steve Copley says success now depends on turnout in November.
“The polls have shown 78% of Arkansas support us…so we think when it’s on the ballot, it will pass,” Copley says.
Arkansas will not be voting on any issues related to marijuana use this election year. Two measures, one for medical marijuana and the other for recreational use, failed to collect enough signatures. Campaign Director for the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, Melissa Fults, says she’s disappointed the measure will be absent on the ballot.
“We’ve made great strides, we’ve educated a lot of people, we’ve come so far. We’re ready to get ready for 2016 and knock it out of the park.”
The Secretary of State’s office will spend the next few days examining the validity of signatures. If too many are invalidated, groups will have 30 days to make up the difference needed to be placed on the ballot