Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge recently rejected the recommended proposed popular name and ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing four casinos in Benton, Boone, Miller and Pulaski counties to raise money for highways. The amendment is backed by the private group, Arkansas Wins in 2018 Inc.
Previously, Rutledge rejected–three times—the suggested popular name and ballot title for a different proposed constitutional amendment authorizing casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties, Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs and Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis, also to raise highway funds. The private committee, Driving Arkansas Forward, is behind this amendment and recently submitted another proposal for Rutledge’s consideration.
Current Arkansas law doesn’t allow stand-alone casinos, but does permit electronic games of skill now offered at Oaklawn and Southland Park.
In her letter to attorney Randall Bynum of Arkansas Wins In 2018, Rutledge wrote “a number of additions or changes to your ballot title are necessary in order to more fully and correctly summarize your proposal.” She said she cannot fairly or completely summarize the effect of a proposed measure in a popular name or ballot title “because of several fundamental ambiguities in the text of the measure itself.”
Rutledge added, “A fatal deficiency of primary importance, in my opinion, is the complete lack of information regarding casino licensing under your proposal, and whether there is any correlation between ownership of the properties listed in your proposal and licensing of a casino or a casino operator.”
Rutledge must approve the ballot title and popular name so the group can begin collecting the required 84,859 valid signatures of registered voters by July 6 to qualify for the November 6 general election ballot.
