Arkansas Election Official Rejects Abortion Rights Measure for Ballot

The Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston has rejected petitions for an abortion rights ballot measure, citing missing paperwork. Organizers dispute the claim, asserting they followed all legal requirements. Despite submitting over 101,000 signatures, 14,143 were deemed invalid, leaving the measure short of the required number. The group plans to contest the decision.

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston has rejected petitions for an abortion rights measure on November's ballot, citing missing paperwork required by law. Organizers dispute the rejection, claiming they complied with all necessary requirements.

In a letter to the organizers, Thurston pointed out the absence of statements regarding paid canvassers and signature-gathering rules, despite the group's assertion that they had submitted the correct documentation. The group, Arkansans for Limited Government, gathered over 101,000 signatures, surpassing the required 90,704. However, Thurston stated that 14,143 signatures collected by paid canvassers were invalid, making the total insufficient.

Amid challenges at the state level, advocates push for abortion rights measures across nearly a dozen states, following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 ruling against Roe v. Wade. Arkansas law bans abortions in nearly all cases, but the proposed measure would allow the procedure up to 20 weeks, with exceptions for specific circumstances.

(With inputs from agencies.)