Secretary of State Denies Challenge to Proposed Casino Amendment
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: July 20, 2012
Secretary of State Mark Martin today denied a challenge to the legal sufficiency of the ballot title for a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution.
Elizabeth Williams of Little Rock challenged the sufficiency of the ballot title for Nancy Todd's Poker Palace and Entertainment Venues, LLC, measure. The proposed amendment would allow a casino gaming establishment in four counties (Pulaski, Miller, Franklin, and Crittenden). The Secretary of State's administrative declaration denies the challenge.
Arkansas law provides for an administrative challenge to the sufficiency of any ballot title. Williams challenged only the sufficiency of the ballot title and did not make any other challenge in the petition filed June 21, 2012.
The Arkansas Attorney General's office had certified the current ballot title and popular name for the measure after revising it from the originally proposed title.
The Secretary of State is required to review an administrative challenge, to consult with the Attorney General concerning such a challenge, and to make the administrative determination of whether the challenge meets the legal requirements for such a challenge. Secretary Martin consulted with the Attorney General's office, which provided a written response to the challenge earlier today.
Arkansas law allows the administrative declaration to be appealed for judicial review.
Secretary Martin has notified both Williams and the proponent of the measure, including counsel for Nancy Todd's Poker Palace and Entertainment Ventures, LLC, of the determination.
Elizabeth Williams of Little Rock challenged the sufficiency of the ballot title for Nancy Todd's Poker Palace and Entertainment Venues, LLC, measure. The proposed amendment would allow a casino gaming establishment in four counties (Pulaski, Miller, Franklin, and Crittenden). The Secretary of State's administrative declaration denies the challenge.
Arkansas law provides for an administrative challenge to the sufficiency of any ballot title. Williams challenged only the sufficiency of the ballot title and did not make any other challenge in the petition filed June 21, 2012.
The Arkansas Attorney General's office had certified the current ballot title and popular name for the measure after revising it from the originally proposed title.
The Secretary of State is required to review an administrative challenge, to consult with the Attorney General concerning such a challenge, and to make the administrative determination of whether the challenge meets the legal requirements for such a challenge. Secretary Martin consulted with the Attorney General's office, which provided a written response to the challenge earlier today.
Arkansas law allows the administrative declaration to be appealed for judicial review.
Secretary Martin has notified both Williams and the proponent of the measure, including counsel for Nancy Todd's Poker Palace and Entertainment Ventures, LLC, of the determination.
Comments
Why should people in Arkansas have to go to another state like oklahoma,mississippi, or missouri to go to the casino? I feel that we should allow casinos in Arkansas so that the money spent goes to Arkansas istead of another state. Besides you have them in Hot Springs and West Memphis at the race tracks and I bet they use the mney for their towns. Why not have it state wide? And if you don't want an out of state entity to handle them open them up yourself.
Tina B.
August 15, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Why should people in Arkansas have to go to another state like oklahoma,mississippi, or missouri to go to the casino? I feel that we should allow casinos in Arkansas so that the money spent goes to Arkansas istead of another state. Besides you have them in Hot Springs and West Memphis at the race tracks and I bet they use the mney for their towns. Why not have it state wide?
Tina B.
August 15, 2012 at 10:49 pm
Go for the Judicial challenge now. Even if this turkey passes , the legal challenges to granting a monopoly to an out-of-State entity will cost millions .
Peter D.
July 20, 2012 at 5:08 pm
