November 7, 2013
Ark. AG Aapproves Wording of Gay Marriage Ballot
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has approved the wording of a ballot measure that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state.
McDaniel's office on Thursday certified the proposal by the Arkansas Initiative for Marriage Equality, clearing the way for the group to begin gathering signatures to place the measure on the ballot. The group wants to put the proposal before voters in 2016.
The measure is the second gay marriage related measure certified by McDaniel's office, which approved the wording of a proposal in September that would repeal the state Constitution's ban on same-sex marriage. That proposal, however, stops short of specifically legalizing gay marriage.
The proposal approved Thursday also repeals the ban and would prohibit clerks from refusing to issue marriage licenses based on the couple's sex.
