The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners voted against the certification of a ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment, which aims to remove Pope County as a state-licensed casino site.
The Commissioners said that the ballot was invalidated by the existing license held by Cherokee Nation Businesses.
The group pushing for the constitutional amendment is called Fair Play Arkansas 2022. They want to enjoy the ‘freedom of life without controversial gambling development’.
A Fair Play Arkansas 2022 spokesperson said that the group was disappointed by the Commissioner's decision and was reconvening to discuss further options.
Meanwhile, Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) legal counsel Dustin McDaniel expressed his approval of the decision, saying he agrees with the “thoughtful and diligent service” in upholding the licensing rights of the CNB.
McDaniel commented: “We assume Fair Play will petition the Supreme Court to review this decision and we will intervene to assist the Attorney General’s office in defending it.”
Act 376 of 2019 shifted the responsibility for certifying a proposed ballot measure's popular name and ballot title from the attorney general to the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners.
Certification of the ballot would have taken it to a general election ballot; Fair Play for Arkansas 2022 said they had turned in 103,906 signatures in approval of its proposed measure for the ballot.
However, Amendment 100 to the Arkansas constitution – approved by voters in 2018 – authorizes the state Racing Commission to issue four casino licenses.
The licenses are authorized for expanding gambling operations at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs, Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis and casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties.
Tribal casinos are currently operating in Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and West Memphis.
