Town Hall scheduled to examine paper ballot ordinance repeal

The lead petitioner in a lawsuit against Independence County has announced a public town hall to address the recent repeal of a voter-approved paper ballot ordinance.

Bryan Norris, a Republican candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State in the March 3 primary, filed the lawsuit on Feb. 7 in Independence County Circuit Court. The legal challenge follows a Dec. 11, 2025, vote by the Quorum Court to repeal Ordinance 2024-18. Though 61.6% of voters approved the paper ballot measure in November 2024, the court voted 9-0 to overturn it via an emergency ordinance.

County Judge Kevin Jeffery stated the repeal was a response to an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling, Evans v. Harrison. The court determined that initiative petitions must be filed between 60 and 90 days before an election. Because local signatures were submitted more than 90 days prior, Jeffery said the measure did not meet constitutional requirements.

“The Justices of the Peace expressed the need to uphold their Oath of Office to uphold the Arkansas Constitution,” Jeffery said in a February statement.

In his lawsuit, Norris argues the repeal violated voter initiative rights and was enacted under undisclosed conflicts of interest. He has invited all 11 justices of the peace, Judge Jeffery, and County Attorney Daniel Haney via certified mail to answer constituent questions at the “Accountability Town Hall.”

According to a release from Norris sent earlier this week, the event will be held on Thursday, March 12, at UACCB Independence Hall in Batesville. Doors open at 4:45 p.m., with the program starting at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and attendees will receive fact sheets on the legal timeline and budget. Fox Creek BBQ will provide complimentary “go bags” for the first 200 attendees.