I don’t care how you vote. I don’t care if you’re left, right or independent.
I do care that you vote and allow your voice to be heard.
Do you remember the end of the movie “Elf” with Will Ferrell, where everyone is singing carols, the dad is lip-syncing and the sleigh isn’t flying because there’s not enough Christmas spirit? Once he starts singing the sleigh flies over his head and begins its journey.
Your vote in an election has a similar impact.
Your vote could be the difference between something breaking into the majority and the voice of the people being heard.
Our nation is ruled by the people of society rather than a monarch or dictator. This is demonstrated by our right to vote for the people we want in office and the policies we want passed.
In Arkansas, there is one legislative proposal and one citizen proposal on the ballot this year.
The legislative proposal on the ballot this year is to add a constitutional amendment to have lottery ticket proceeds fund or provide scholarships and grants to Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes, according to the Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The proceeds from lottery ticket sales already go to college students through scholarships like the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship, but the legislators are looking to extend the scholarships and grants to those who are going to vocational-technical schools, according to the Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Voting in support of the amendment change means lottery ticket proceeds will go to the students enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes, along with college and university students.
Voting against the issue means the amendment will remain the same, with proceeds going only to college and university students and not to vocational-technical school students.
One of the citizens’ proposal issues is about requiring local voter approval in countywide special elections for new casino licenses and repealing the casino license for Pope County.
Voting in favor of this issue means voting to remove Pope County’s casino gaming license and requiring special elections in counties where voters would approve of a casino in that county, according to the Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Voting against this issue is voting for Pope County to keep its casino license. Any future casinos approved by a state-wide vote would not need a countywide approval.
The ballot would have a second citizens’ proposal issue about expanding the Arkansas medical marijuana program.
However, the Arkansas secretary of state’s office deemed the proposed amendment short of signatures as of Sept. 30, and therefore it does not qualify to be voted on during the November general election.
Since the ballots have already been printed, the amendment to expand the medical marijuana program will still appear on the ballot but votes for it will not be counted.
Voters should be informed about the pending issues that will be on the Arkansas ballot this election cycle and encourage those over the age of 18 to exercise their right to vote in the election.
The deadline to register or change registration information in Arkansas is Monday, Oct. 7. Early voting starts Oct. 21 and Election Day is Nov. 5.
Go to vote.gov to find out how to register and vote.org to find polling sites and to view sample ballots.
For more detailed and unbiased information about the Arkansas ballot, go to uaex.uada.edu/ballot. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture provides voters with neutral information on statewide ballot issues.
