THIS IS WHAT VOTING MEANS IN 2022

 

©Wendell Griffen, 2022

Early voting for the November 2022 election begins across Arkansas on Monday, October 24. Voting is the way people in a democratic society are supposed to choose leaders and laws, as opposed to be ruled by leaders and laws they cannot choose.

Arkansans will choose one among three candidates for Governor, the chief executive of our state. The candidates are Ricky Harrington from the Libertarian Party, Chris Jones from the Democratic Party, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders from the Republican Party.

Of the three, Chris Jones has been the candidate who walked, talked, and listened to Arkansans in each of the 75 Arkansas counties about issues we face and his vision for the future. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has not been accessible to voters, has avoided countless interview requests from news media, and has campaigned mainly by fearmongering against the media and women, men and children who live with their backs against the wall.

Will Arkansans vote for the candidate who has worked hard to help us, get to know us, and communicate with us?

Will you do so?

Will Arkansans vote for candidates who want to live, work, and hope with all of us?

Will you do so?

Will Arkansans vote for candidates who believe in justice, inclusion, and compassion for women and girls, immigrants, Black, Latinx, and other persons of color, workers, LGBTQI persons, and our neighbors who are differently abled?

Will you do so?  

Will Arkansans vote for candidates who want to make it easier to vote?

Will you do so?

Will Arkansans vote to fund public libraries and protect them from censorship?

Will you do so?

Will Arkansans vote for candidates who support higher salaries for public teachers?

Will you do so?

I hope Arkansans vote AGAINST Issue 1. Issue 1 would amend the Arkansas Constitution and allow the Arkansas General Assembly – the state legislature – to call itself into extraordinary (special) sessions either after a joint proclamation from the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, or after a proclamation signed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber.  Under existing law, the legislature already meets every two years, has a separate fiscal session, and can be summoned into special session by the Governor of Arkansas. I am AGAINST Issue 2 because no evidence shows that state legislators need to meet often to consider and pass new laws.

Will you do so? 

I hope Arkansans vote AGAINST Issue 2 that would make it harder for Arkansans to create laws such as those that established workers compensation benefits, minimum wages, and access to medical marijuana.

Will you do so? 

I hope Arkansans vote AGAINST Issue 3 that allow bigots to use religion as a license for bigotry, discrimination, and censorship.

Will you do so?

I hope Arkansans vote FOR Issue 4. Issue 4 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that was initiated by the public, not the state legislature. According to Ballotpedia, Issue 4 would legalize marijuana use for individuals 21 years of age and older and would authorize the commercial sale of marijuana with sales to be taxed at 10%. Of the tax revenue, 15% would be used to fund an annual stipend to all full-time law enforcement officers certified by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) that are in good standing.

Under the amendment, adults could possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Businesses that already hold licenses under the state’s medical marijuana program would be authorized to sell marijuana at their existing locations and could establish one additional location for commercial sale only. An additional 40 licenses would be permitted to be issued by a lottery.

Two of the three candidates for Governor – Ricky Harrington and Chris Jones – are for Issue 4. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is against it.

I hope Arkansans vote FOR Issue 4 and allow adults to purchase and possess marijuana and allow marijuana to be commercially farmed and sold for adult purchase and possession. I hope Arkansans vote to stop criminalizing possession and sale of marijuana for personal use.

Will you do so? 

I hope you will vote. I hope you encourage others to vote. I hope you help people who need help getting to polling places.

And I hope this column helps you better understand what voting means for Arkansans in 2022.