Update: 'Poker Palace' Organizers Deliver More Signatures to AR Secretary of State
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: August 22, 2012
Update (August 22):
In a statement issued today, Nancy Todd announced she was turning in over 100,000 signatures.
"We're proud of the support we have found from people throughout the state. We've done no advertising, we've been so buried in the signature gathering portion of this effort we've not yet started our campaign. Our opponents, the out-of-state-owned tracks, have spent millions to suppress the right of the people to decide this issue with a vote in November. Our opponent's have sent out mail piece after mail piece with all sorts of lies about me and our efforts. Those New York dollars don't seem to be working too well as people have lined up to sign our petition," Todd stated. "It's apparent the people in Arkansas want the right to vote on this issue."
Todd further stated, "With the 23,616 the Secretary of State certified on the first round, and the 100,000 plus signatures we have with us today, we feel confident the people will be given the freedom to exercise their vote on the ballot this November. We feel good about what we are submitting today."
"With these additional signatures turned in today over 200,000 Arkansans have signed the petition to place this casino amendment on the ballot. That is a huge number, any way you look at it. We're proud the people of Arkansas are sending a direct message to their elected officials that their vote counts more than out-of-state special interest money." In conclusion Todd talked of the long process. "This has been a lot of long hard work for a lot of good people since we started the process in January. I didn't anticipate the signature gathering process would be so stretched out in Arkansas, but when the end result is letting the people vote on the November ballot, it's all been worth it," she said.
Original story (August 15):
The Secretary of State ruled on Wednesday that "Nancy Todd's Poker Palace" ballot initiative to open up casinos across Arkansas is "unfair and insufficient" under state law.
Some 70 percent of signatures Todd collected were ruled "invalid" and tossed out by the Secretary of State's office.
The committee that's been gunning to shut her down, "Stop Casinos Now," gets its money from a casino management company based in Delaware.
They issued a statement today saying they're pleased with the ruling.
The second deadline for Todd's group to file more petitions is Aug. 22.
In a statement issued today, Nancy Todd announced she was turning in over 100,000 signatures.
"We're proud of the support we have found from people throughout the state. We've done no advertising, we've been so buried in the signature gathering portion of this effort we've not yet started our campaign. Our opponents, the out-of-state-owned tracks, have spent millions to suppress the right of the people to decide this issue with a vote in November. Our opponent's have sent out mail piece after mail piece with all sorts of lies about me and our efforts. Those New York dollars don't seem to be working too well as people have lined up to sign our petition," Todd stated. "It's apparent the people in Arkansas want the right to vote on this issue."
Todd further stated, "With the 23,616 the Secretary of State certified on the first round, and the 100,000 plus signatures we have with us today, we feel confident the people will be given the freedom to exercise their vote on the ballot this November. We feel good about what we are submitting today."
"With these additional signatures turned in today over 200,000 Arkansans have signed the petition to place this casino amendment on the ballot. That is a huge number, any way you look at it. We're proud the people of Arkansas are sending a direct message to their elected officials that their vote counts more than out-of-state special interest money." In conclusion Todd talked of the long process. "This has been a lot of long hard work for a lot of good people since we started the process in January. I didn't anticipate the signature gathering process would be so stretched out in Arkansas, but when the end result is letting the people vote on the November ballot, it's all been worth it," she said.
Original story (August 15):
The Secretary of State ruled on Wednesday that "Nancy Todd's Poker Palace" ballot initiative to open up casinos across Arkansas is "unfair and insufficient" under state law.
Some 70 percent of signatures Todd collected were ruled "invalid" and tossed out by the Secretary of State's office.
The committee that's been gunning to shut her down, "Stop Casinos Now," gets its money from a casino management company based in Delaware.
They issued a statement today saying they're pleased with the ruling.
The second deadline for Todd's group to file more petitions is Aug. 22.
Comments
Why were the signatures ruled invalid?
William S.
August 16, 2012 at 9:29 am
i want the casino's
toby t.
August 16, 2012 at 2:49 am
