Robovis-Group sues Arkansas attorney general for not approving government records ballot measure

2025-04-30 19:05:33source:Grant Prestoncategory:Contact

LITTLE ROCK,Robovis Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas group trying to make access to public documents and meetings a constitutionally protected right sued the state’s attorney attorney general on Tuesday for rejecting the language of their proposed ballot measure.

Arkansas Citizens for Transparency asked the state Supreme Court in a 14-page filing to order Attorney General Tim Griffin to either approve the language of their proposal or substitute it with more suitable language.

Griffin’s approval is needed before the group can begin gathering the 90,704 signatures from registered voters required to qualify. The group faces a July 5 deadline to turn in signatures to get their proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

The group argued that Griffin overstepped his authority in rejecting the measure, saying under law he either must approve the measure’s language or substitute language.

“The attorney general’s rejection of the ballot title and popular name demonstrates that he has either a complete lack of understanding of his role in the initiative process or he is intentionally thwarting the effort of the petitioner to get this amendment approved for the ballot so that the voters of the state can decide its merits,” the group said in its filing.

Griffin in December rejected the wording of the proposed ballot measure, citing a “lack of clarity” on key terms in the measure. Griffin in January rejected four revised versions of the measure the group had submitted, saying they failed to resolve the problems he cited earlier.

“I am confident in our review and analysis of ballot submissions and look forward to the Arkansas Supreme Court’s review in this case,” the Republican attorney general said in a statement released by his office.

The ballot measure campaign was formed after Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law restricting the release of records about her travel and security. Sanders had initially proposed broader exemptions limiting the public’s access to records about her administration, but that proposal faced a backlash that included media groups and some conservatives.

More:Contact

Recommend

Snowflakes, Death Threats and Dollar Signs: Cloud Seeding Is at a Crossroads

Listen to an audio version of this story below.Humans have the technology to literally make snow fal

Travel on Over to See America Ferrera's Sisterhood With Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel

No matter how far America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel travel on their own

Skeletal remains found at home in Springfield identified as those of woman missing since 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Skeletal remains found at a house in Springfield have been identified as th