Ballot measures pose other choices for students on Election Day
Many student voters are unsure of various measures and proposed constitutional amendments to be on the ballot
James Baker
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: News
By now, most students know who they want for president when they vote Tuesday. But what about the ballot measures UA students will vote on, like Referred Question No. 1, the Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2007? Measures like this have even well-informed students scratching their heads.
"I really didn't understand a couple of them," said Kevin Ziobrowski, an art history and education major.
First, the local ballot measure that will be voted on by UA students registered in Fayetteville is the Lowest Priority Initiative, which adds a provision numbered as 130.02 in the Code of Ordinances of Fayetteville that would make law enforcement of marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, lowest priority, including investigation, citation, arrest and seizure of property.
Chicago native Erik Clausen said the focus of the police force should be on real crimes and on drugs like methamphetamines.
"You don't want that in your community," he said.
Instead, Clausen said he sees too many cases where the punishment of those caught with personal amounts of marijuana outweighs the crime, in turn costing taxpayers more money.
However, city laws cannot take away the criminal aspects of marijuana possession because they cannot supersede state drug laws.
Next, students will be asked to decide on Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which would authorize the General Assembly to establish, operate and regulate state lotteries to fund grants and scholarships for students in state colleges and universities.
The measure has been spearheaded by Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who said millions would be poured into education.
Halter said Arkansas is only ahead of West Virginia with some of the lowest numbers of college-educated adults in the nation.
"If people want to spend their money, that's for the person to decide, not the state or a narrow interest group," junior Ramsay Fulbright said, referring to the thousands of Arkansans who cross state lines to play in other state lotteries.
"I really didn't understand a couple of them," said Kevin Ziobrowski, an art history and education major.
First, the local ballot measure that will be voted on by UA students registered in Fayetteville is the Lowest Priority Initiative, which adds a provision numbered as 130.02 in the Code of Ordinances of Fayetteville that would make law enforcement of marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, lowest priority, including investigation, citation, arrest and seizure of property.
Chicago native Erik Clausen said the focus of the police force should be on real crimes and on drugs like methamphetamines.
"You don't want that in your community," he said.
Instead, Clausen said he sees too many cases where the punishment of those caught with personal amounts of marijuana outweighs the crime, in turn costing taxpayers more money.
However, city laws cannot take away the criminal aspects of marijuana possession because they cannot supersede state drug laws.
Next, students will be asked to decide on Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which would authorize the General Assembly to establish, operate and regulate state lotteries to fund grants and scholarships for students in state colleges and universities.
The measure has been spearheaded by Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who said millions would be poured into education.
Halter said Arkansas is only ahead of West Virginia with some of the lowest numbers of college-educated adults in the nation.
"If people want to spend their money, that's for the person to decide, not the state or a narrow interest group," junior Ramsay Fulbright said, referring to the thousands of Arkansans who cross state lines to play in other state lotteries.
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