Arkansas ballot measure · November 3, 2026
Arkansas Issue 2, explained
Right to keep and bear arms. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.
The official wording
Popular Name: A Constitutional Amendment to Amend Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, to Protect the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Ballot Title: AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS FOR THEIR COMMON DEFENSE, FOR LAWFUL HUNTING AND RECREATIONAL USE, AND FOR ANY OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSE; PROVIDING THAT THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS INCLUDES WITHOUT LIMITATION THE POSSESSION AND USE OF AMMUNITION, FIREARM ACCESSORIES, AND FIREARM COMPONENTS; AND PROVIDING THAT THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS IS A NATURAL, FUNDAMENTAL, AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHT THAT SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.
This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.
What it actually means
Article 2, § 5 of the Arkansas Constitution already says citizens have the right to keep and bear arms for their common defense. This amendment adds lawful hunting, recreational use and any other lawful purpose; says the right covers ammunition, firearm accessories and firearm components "without limitation"; and declares the right natural, fundamental and individual, and not to be infringed.
If you vote YES
- The state constitutional right to keep and bear arms would expressly cover common defense, lawful hunting and recreational use, and any other lawful purpose.
- The right would be stated to include, without limitation, the possession and use of ammunition, firearm accessories and firearm components.
- The section would declare the right "a natural, fundamental, and individual right that shall not be infringed," language courts commonly read as calling for a demanding standard of review of state firearm laws.
- Existing state and federal firearm laws would not be repealed by the amendment itself, but could be challenged in court against the new language.
If you vote NO
- Article 2, § 5 would keep its current text: "The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense."
- Arkansas firearm laws would continue to be judged against that existing provision and against the Second Amendment.
- Ammunition, accessories and components would not be named in the state constitution, and the "shall not be infringed" standard would not be added.
Why supporters say YES
"At the end of the day, the Second Amendment and our own right to keep and bear arms in the Arkansas Constitution is not about hunting, it's not about sport-shooting and it's not about self-protection. It's about a citizen's last line of defense against tyranny, and it's part of our nation's DNA."
— State Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville), a sponsor
Why opponents say NO
"The extreme and absolute language of the amendment could create unintended consequences. Declaring that the right to keep and bear arms includes 'without limitation' to the possession of ammunition, accessories, and components could open the door to legal challenges that undermine responsible gun ownership. By using absolute language this amendment could make it harder to enforce laws that protect law abiding citizens from criminals and those who abuse their rights."
— Anna Morshedi, Arkansas chapter lead, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
What’s genuinely uncertain
- As of August 20, 2026 no committee had registered with the Arkansas Ethics Commission to support or oppose Issue 2.
- Which existing Arkansas firearm laws, if any, would be vulnerable to challenge under the new language is untested; neither side has published a list, and no court has construed the proposed wording.
- No fiscal impact statement for Issue 2 was located.
The bottom line
Whether to broaden Arkansas's constitutional gun right beyond "common defense" and declare it a fundamental right that shall not be infringed; its sponsor frames it as securing a basic liberty, a gun-safety group warns the absolute wording invites challenges to existing firearm laws.
One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.
Checking it against the official text
The Arkansas Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.
Confirm this with the official source
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Arkansas Secretary of State.
Other measures on the Arkansas ballot
Candidates on the same ballot
- U.S. Senate election in Arkansas
- Arkansas governor's race
- Arkansas's 1st congressional district
- Arkansas's 2nd congressional district
- Arkansas's 3rd congressional district
- Arkansas's 4th congressional district