The final gavel drop on the contested questions on the Nov. 6 General Election Ballot has yet to fall.
But the five questions are set and voters have been discussing and debating these policy issues for some time.
In this space today, I'll recap the first three ballot issues, Questions 1, 2 and 3, saving Questions 4 and 5 for next week.
In short, the questions (as described on the ballot) are:
Question 1 -- An act concerning civil lawsuits and the powers of the General Assembly and Supreme Court to adopt court rules.
In layman's language: If you vote for this amendment you limit civil damages in a lawsuit. Juries can no longer set the penalty in dollars for an award. Voter will also allow the state Legislature to set rules for the courts and limit the damages in a lawsuit involving and up to limiting the amount you can sue for the death caused by a third party (such as in a medical or accident causing injury, disability or death).
My take on it: This is bad policy. I do not like the lawyer commercials saying "...if you are hurt in a wreck, you need a check. Call me!" But my grandson's life, if ended by a drunk driver or a careless medical professional, is certainly worth more than $500,000. I also know of no doctor who has fled this state over frivolous lawsuits.
I will be voting NO on Issue 1.
Question 2 -- This is an Amendment adding as a qualification that a voter present certain valid photographic identification when casting a ballot in person or casting an absentee ballot.
In layman's language: You will have to present your state issued Driver's License or a State issued Identification card or some other identification issued by the state or federal government in order to vote in person or by absentee ballot.
My take on it: This is a paranoia felt by those who feel there are people out there who are not registered voters or even non-citizens who seek to change the outcome of an election in Arkansas. For the state to meet this burden could cost thousands of tax-payer dollars for no real reason.
I will be voting NO on Issue 2. I trust most Arkansans to tell the truth of who they are and where they live to cast a true ballot.
Question 3 -- This is an Amendment with the ballot title of Arkansas Term Limits Amendment.
In layman's language it will set shorter term limits for State Representatives and State Senators to 10 years. Currently, a state House member or State Senator can serve 16 years in one chamber or 16 years if the service is both in the House and the Senate.
The change will be that no person may be elected to more than three (3) two-year terms as a member of the House of Representatives, to more than two (2) four-year terms as a member of the Senate, or to any term that, if served, would cause the member to exceed a total of 10 years of service in the General Assembly.
My take on it: This may be needed in light of the glut of elected officials that seem to have ethical problems with being citizen/legislators. There is one sneaky provision that is needed, that the Legislature cannot propose a change to their own term limits, I like that.
However, I am conflicted in that more than 80 percent of those currently serving will be out of office in 2020. Perhaps that is what voters want.
And here is the real rub of it all on this question: Every legislator is up for re-election every two years in the House and four years in the Senate. So there are limits already, if exercised by the voters.
I'll be voting No on Amendment 3.
Even though I have voted constantly each time to vote some of these scoundrels out of office -- without term limits sometimes it just takes longer to see a new face in office.
Next Week: Questions 4 and 5.
MAYLON RICE IS A FORMER JOURNALIST WHO WORKED FOR SEVERAL NORTHWEST ARKANSAS PUBLICATIONS. HE CAN BE REACHED VIA EMAIL AT [email protected]. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.
Editorial on 10/17/2018