Arkansas Citizens for Transparency, the group seeking to strengthen the state’s freedom of information laws, will not turn in any signatures today, according to a group member.
Attorney David Couch, who worked with the group, said the organization will not turn in signatures on either its proposed constitutional amendment or its proposed initiated act. The group needed 90,704 signatures by Friday to put an amendment on the November ballot. The group was also pushing an initiated act and needed 72,563 signatures by Friday to put it on the ballot.
The effort to strengthen the sunshine laws this year included the handcuffing of Jen Standerfer, a leader of the group, during a meeting of the Arkansas Bar Association last month.
UPDATE:
Arkansas Citizens for Transparency said in an email late Friday that the group fell “just short” of the number of signatures needed to make the ballot but vowed to try again in 2026.
The group said they did achieve the requisite number of signatures in at least 50 counties, which was one of the requirements to make the November ballot. The group chose not to turn in the signatures they gathered in order to save the Secretary of State’s office “unnecessary work,” according to Ashley Kemp Wimberley of the Arkansas Press Association.
Here’s the full state from Arkansas Citizens for Transparency:
Representatives of FOIA BQCs [ballot question committees] and Arkansas Press Association officials announced today that their effort to place a constitutional amendment and initiated act on the November 5 ballot had fallen just short of the required number of signatures while collecting the necessary number from the 50 counties, indicating broad support and a strong organization. Supporters also announced an intent to refile their constitutional amendment proposal and begin collecting signatures for the 2026 election.
Arkansas Press Association Executive Director Ashley Kemp Wimberley said the day was difficult but the decision was made to not submit in order to save the dedicated staff in the Secretary of State’s office unnecessary work.
“First, I want to express my gratitude for all of those who volunteered long hours,” said Wimberley. “It’s been gratifying to see so many people from across the state with no interest other than believing in open government and the right of any citizen to obtain information willing to work so hard. I also want to thank those who gave financially to help us keep this grassroots effort afloat and give it a fighting chance. We were short on time. This is a hurdle not an end. This has been an educational process and we are hopeful that the same is true for our legislators who represent the people who believe in this across the state.”
Nate Bell, who chaired the Arkansas Citizens for Transparency committee which drafted the amendment and act, thanked the supporters of the effort. “Scores of people volunteered their time and worked diligently for months and I appreciate the effort,” said Bell. “An open and transparent government is essential for the future of our democratic institutions because a citizenry without independent information will be unable to make informed judgments about the quality of government they are being provided. Unfortunately, rules have been set that are very arduous and costly and we have learned a lot from this experience that will be valuable in the future.”
Andrew Bagley, who was installed as the new President of the Arkansas Press Association a week ago and served on the Arkansans for a Free Press committee, said there will be another effort in 2026. “Polling shows that Open government is immensely popular and it is essential whether it’s at the Capitol or the local level,” said Bagley. “We look forward to working with the members of the General Assembly in the next session to preserve the people’s right to know and I am proud to announce today that the Arkansans for a Free Press committee will continue organizing and will file an updated proposal and begin the process to try and qualify for the 2026 election. I still have hope and believe that we share the concerns of a majority of Arkansans. We cannot allow Winthrop Rockefeller’s legacy to be erased. He was a fighter who once ran for Governor and lost but came back to be one of the most revered governors in the history of our state. He taught us not to give up in the face of a setback.”