Arkansas voters recently enacted a constitutional amendment to ensure that the future of casino development in the state will rest in the hands of local electorates. This measure, known as Issue 2, garnered significant attention, culminating in a decisive approval from the voters, with 631,417 votes in favor, representing 55.78% of the tally.
This decision mandates that any new casino proposal in Arkansas, including in Pope County, must now undergo a county-specific special election, shifting the decision-making power directly to local communities. This change comes after a repeal of a previously issued casino license in Pope County, embedded within the state constitution, sparking a broad dialogue about local autonomy and economic development.
Hometown decisions on casino development:
The spokesperson for Local Voters in Charge, Hans Stiritz, articulated the group’s stance following the amendment’s passage. According to KHBS, he said:“Issue 2 is based upon a really, a very, very simple premise that local voters, the people within the communities that are potentially affected by casino projects, those are the people who should have the final say on whether the casino project goes forward or not, and it really is that simple.”
Local Voters in Charge, a citizen-led initiative, had successfully championed the amendment, overcoming substantial opposition by submitting over 26,000 valid signatures beyond the requisite 90,704. This movement was met with strong resistance, particularly from Pope County officials and surrounding counties, where a majority opposed the amendment.
The economic implications of Issue 2 have stirred significant debate, particularly from Pope County Judge Ben Cross. He predicted a “direct and regressive impact” on the county’s economic landscape, citing potential losses ranging from school funding opportunities to critical infrastructure projects such as a new courthouse annex.
“In what is undoubtedly the epitome of irony, Pope County voters definitively made their voices heard once and for all on the casino issue by soundly defeating Issue 2 in our county,” Cross remarked, expressing frustration over external counties deciding on local matters.
Opposition from business leaders:
Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, echoed these sentiments, describing the amendment’s approval as a “devastating setback” for the economic future of both Pope County and Arkansas at large. “As we anticipated, voters in Pope County and across the River Valley voted against Issue 2 by an overwhelming majority because they recognize the immediate economic prosperity a casino resort would bring. Issue 2 passed statewide under the misleading pretense that it provides local control. As evidenced tonight, that could not be further from the truth.” Garrett stated, as reported by Arkansas Advocate.
The amendment’s journey to the ballot box was fraught with legal challenges, including disputes over signature collection and the validity of canvasser paperwork. Despite these hurdles, the Arkansas Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of counting the votes for the proposed amendment, affirming the efforts of Local Voters in Charge.
Financial backing for the amendment notably included contributions from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which previously contested the Pope County casino license. Meanwhile, opposition groups like Investing in Arkansas, supported by Cherokee Nation Businesses, argued that the amendment would divert significant economic benefits from Arkansas to neighboring states.
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