Voters across the country will decide a wide range of state ballot measures on Nov. 3, including proposals that directly affect voting rules in Arkansas.
national picture and Arkansas' measure
Nationwide, 39 states will present a total of 145 initiatives to voters this election cycle, covering subjects including election laws, transgender rights, taxes and abortion, the public broadcaster PBS reported. California and Colorado lead the nation with 14 measures each.
Among measures affecting voting, PBS identified at least six states — Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia — that are voting on amendments or laws to explicitly state that only U.S. citizens may vote. The reporting grouped those measures with other voting-related items, such as proposals on voter identification requirements.
expert view on initiatives and turnout
Rick Hasen, a professor of political science and an election-law scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles, said ballot initiatives are sometimes used to influence turnout patterns in midterm elections.
“Sometimes, initiatives are put on the ballot to incentivize voter turnout,” Hasen said in an email.
The PBS report noted that the number and topic of initiatives vary by state: some states allow citizen-initiated measures that bypass legislatures, while others restrict measures to those referred by lawmakers. The threshold for passage also differs; for example, Florida requires 60% approval for constitutional amendments, while other states have other requirements.
what voters will see
- States across the map will consider measures ranging from constitutional amendments to changes in statute.
- Proposals tied to voting rules include language about citizenship and voter ID requirements in several states, including Arkansas.
- The overall national total of initiatives in 2026 is 145, occurring in 39 states.
The reporting did not provide the full text of Arkansas’ ballot language; voters should consult the Arkansas Secretary of State’s official ballot guide for the precise titles, summaries and text of measures appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot in Arkansas.
