A significant section of a lawsuit contesting a voter initiative to revoke Pope County’s contentious casino license has been dismissed by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The court’s decision on Monday, which marked a major development in the continuing legal dispute, dismissed arguments pertaining to signature collection.
The court rejected claims that the organization behind “Issue 2,” a ballot initiative, had broken state regulations pertaining to gathering signatures in a unanimous ruling. The group’s opponents had stated that it was illegal for them to pay canvassers for each signature and that they had neglected to submit the required paperwork. The court rejected these arguments, though, therefore the text of the ballot question is still being examined.
The lawsuit was filed by Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which holds the Pope County casino license, and the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee. Both parties assert that Issue 2 undermines the 2018 constitutional amendment, which allowed four casino sites across the state, including Pope County.
Local Control vs. Statewide Approval
Though this ruling represents a setback for the lawsuit’s proponents, a final decision on whether Issue 2 will appear on the November ballot is still pending. “We still await the Court’s decision on the ballot title challenge,” said Allison Burum, spokesperson for the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee. “Issue 2 is misleading and seeks to overturn the will of voters who approved the casino license.”
On the other side, Local Voters in Charge, the group behind the measure, welcomed the court’s decision. Their spokesperson, Hans Stiritz, emphasized, “Issue 2’s message of local voter control—that communities should have the final say on a casino in their own hometown—is resonating across the state.”
As the legal dispute continues, the future of Pope County’s casino license remains uncertain, with millions in campaign funds being poured into both sides of the debate.
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