By: Noah Kim
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – For the upcoming midterms, Arkansans will directly vote on four proposed ballot measures, Issue 3 deals with religious freedoms provided within the state constitution.
Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert and Arkansas State Representative Jimmy Gazaway are the sponsors of Issue 3, also referred to as the “Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment.” The proposed ballot measure passed a vote by the Arkansas State Congress, allowing for it to be placed on the 2022 General Election Ballot.
The ballot measure, if passed by a public vote, will change the verbiage of the Arkansas constitution to place more limits on the state and local government’s ability to regulate religious practices. This amendment makes it so the government can never “burden a person’s freedom of religion” unless the government proves they have a compelling reason while acting in the “least restrictive way.”
Issue 3 would revise language and exemptions from the 2015 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, in which protections are only offered if the government “substantially burdens” one’s practicing of their religion. The proposed ballot measure would also remove previously offered exemptions to the Department of Correction, the Department of Community Correction, county jails, and detention facilities.
Voting “no” on the ballot measure would result in no change to the Arkansas State Constitution, keeping the 2015 Religious Freedom Restoration Act in place.