Congressional maps are enacted by the Arkansas General Assembly, subject to the Governor’s veto. Legislative maps are adopted by the Arkansas Board of Apportionment, a 3-member body comprised of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.
Arkansas’ congressional delegation remained at 4 seats following the 2020 reapportionment.
Primary Authority: Drawn and enacted by the Arkansas General Assembly, subject to the Governor's veto. The General Assembly can override a veto with a majority vote in each chamber. Republicans currently have veto-proof majorities in both chambers.
If a bill is presented to the Governor during session, the Governor has 5 days to sign or veto it; otherwise, it becomes law without signature. If the bill is delivered during the final 5 days of session, the Governor has 20 days to sign it; otherwise, it becomes law without signature. Sundays are excluded from these calculations.
Mapping Timeline: Not specified.
Redistricting Criteria: None.
Map Challenges: Not specified.
Primary Authority: Drawn and adopted by the Arkansas Board of Apportionment, a 3-member body comprised of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. Official board actions require a majority vote. [Ark. Const. art. VIII, § 1]
Mapping Timeline: Final maps must be adopted and filed with the Secretary of State by February 1 of the year after the decennial census. Maps become effective 30 days after filing unless proceedings for revision are instituted in the Arkansas Supreme Court. [Ark. Const. art. VIII, § 4]
Redistricting Criteria: As nearly equal in population as practicable; Contiguous; No counties split unless legally necessary. [Ark. Const. art. VIII, §§ 2, 3] Minimize political subdivision splits; respect communities of interest; Avoid pairing incumbents; Minimize partisanship. [Ark. Bd. of Apportionment Redistricting Criteria & Goals]
Map Challenges: Filed in the Arkansas Supreme Court. Within 30 days after the final plans are filed with the Secretary of State, any citizen or taxpayer can file an application to compel the Board to perform its duties or to revise any arbitrary action or abuse of discretion by the Board in creating the plans. Any final judgment modifying a plan shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of State. [Ark. Const. art. VIII, § 5]
Kinds of Ballot Measures: Direct initiatives and referendums are permitted to amend statutes. Direct initiatives are permitted to amend the state constitution. Legislatively initiated ballot measures may amend both statutes and the state constitution.
Single-Subject Rule: No.
Initiative Subject Restrictions: No.
Signature Requirements: Constitutional amendments require signatures equal to 10% of all votes cast for all candidates for governor in the last general election, 8% for statutory initiatives, and 6% for referendums. For constitutional amendments, petitions must include signatures from each of at least 15 counties in the state equal to no less than 5% of the votes cast in such county for a gubernatorial candidate in the last general election, 4% for statutory initiatives; and 3% for referendums. 907,037 people voted for a gubernatorial candidate in the 2022 general election in Arkansas, so 90,704 signatures are required for constitutional amendments, 72,563 signatures are required for statutory initiatives, and 54,423 signatures are required for referendums. County vote totals can be found on the Arkansas Secretary of State website.
Submission Deadlines: Initiative petitions must be submitted at least 4 months prior to the election in which the petition is to appear on the ballot (July 4, 2024). Referendums must be submitted within 90 days after the adjournment of the General Assembly.
Circulation Period: Not specified.
Ballot Title and Summary: Ballot title and summary are written by the proponents, submitted to the Secretary of State for certification, then delivered to the State Board of Election Commissioners. Expedited reviews for titles and summaries are permitted.
Other Requirements: A fiscal impact statement is required. Circulators must register with the Secretary of State. There are no supermajority requirements. The General Assembly cannot amend or repeal an approved measure without a 2/3 supermajority vote. Initiatives are permitted on general election ballots, but not on primary or special election ballots or odd-year ballots.
[Ark. Const. art. V, § 1; Ark. Code Ann. §§ 7-9-101 — 7-9-601; Ark. Sec. of State 2022 Initiatives and Referenda Handbook]
2010
2000
Current districts for Arkansas by chamber, shaded by the incumbent’s party.
To view past district shapefiles, see our Map Archive Page.
Formerly Simpson v. Hutchinson.
