July 5. That’s the deadline for groups trying to get proposed amendments and statutes on the November ballot to turn in signatures. Organizers need to collect signatures from 90,704 registered voters for the amendments, and 72,563 for statutes.
Proposals include ballot measures on abortion access, government transparency, public education, medical marijuana and more.
Again, we’re talking about July 5. Three days from today.
As supporters of direct democracy and civic engagement, we at the Arkansas Times want to help. Here’s a list of all of the signing events around The Natural State between now and Friday’s deadline. If you know of an event missing from this list, please let us know and we’ll add it.
ALSO, just a reminder: you do not have to sign in the county where you live. You only have to be a registered Arkansas voter and tell the canvassers what county you live in before you sign so they can make sure you’re signing the right copies of the petitions.
Voters from the further flung corners of Arkansas are especially important, thanks to a constitutionally suspect new law that requires a certain portion of signatures to come from 50 of the state’s 75 counties.
Northwest Arkansas
Cheap Thrills, 120 S. E Ave., Fayetteville. M-F, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Columbus House Brewery, 701 W. North St., Fayetteville. W-Th, 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Justice Reform Coalition, 205 N. College Ave., Fayetteville. M-F, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kaleidoscope Collective, 109 W. Walnut St., Rogers. Tu-Sa, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
River Valley
Rover Valley Natural Pet, 2801 Old Greenwood Rd., Fort Smith. Tu-F, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Sa, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Bookish, 63 S. 6th St., Fort Smith. Tu/Th/F, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sa, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2
Fort Smith Main Public Library, 3201 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3
Fort Smith Main Public Library, 3201 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith. 11 a.m.-2 p.m; 5-7 p.m.
Northeast Arkansas (including north & east Arkansas)
Permanent
Janssen’s Lakefront Restaurant, 9999 Edgemont Rd., Edgemont. F-Sa, 5-8 p.m.
Blytheville Book Co., 429 W. Main St., Blytheville. Tu-Sa, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Eclectic Geekery, 201 W. Main St., Walnut Ridge. W-Su, 12-9 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3
Mountain Home Farmers’ Market, Corner of 5th St. & Shiras St., Mtn. Home. 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Forrest City Sports Complex, 2510 S. Washington St., Forrest City. 5:00 p.m.-??
Central Arkansas
Permanent
Wrap Right Packaging, 11323 Arcade Dr., Little Rock. M-F, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sa, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Per one would-be signer, the education petition is not at this location.)
The YOU Center, 4 Office Park Dr., Little Rock. M-Sa, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Retro Fit, 315 Ouachita Ave., Hot Springs. W-Sa, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Stellar Beauty Collective, 545 Carpenter Dam Rd., Suite C, Hot Springs. W-F, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Arkansas Times, 201 E. Markham St. Suite 150, Little Rock. M-F, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs. M-F, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2
Democratic Party of Arkansas Headquarters, 1300 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saline County Library, 1800 Smithers Dr., Benton. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Drive-up Signing Event, 107 B St., Perryville. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Garland County Library Drive-Thru Event, 1427 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs. M-F, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Arkansas Education Association, 1500 W. 4th St. #200, Little Rock. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3
Unitarian Universalist Church, 1818 Reservoir Rd., Little Rock. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Arkansas Education Association, 1500 W. 4th St. #200, Little Rock. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saline Co. Petition Event, 124 N. Market St., Benton. 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Thursday, July 4
Arkansas State Capitol, 500 Woodlane St., Little Rock. 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
South Arkansas (including southwest and southeast Arkansas)
Permanent
Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St. #6099, Arkadelphia. W, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.