Legislature Gives Voters Two Choices

The one we expect to pass was proposed by Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, to clean up the constitutional provisions affecting voting rights and elections. To put it bluntly, the amendment would strike from our constitution some embarrassing and, thankfully, ignored language.

The provision that will likely get the most attention and might even make it to the late-night TV comics’ monologues would repeal a section of the state charter providing that “no idiot or insane person” be allowed to vote. We can hear the jokes now.
 

 If the proposed amendment, sponsored by Rep. Eric Harris, R-Springdale, is approved, appropriation bills the Legislature approves would be good for one year, instead of two, as is the case with biennial regular sessions.

The theory is that two years is too far ahead to be making multi-billion-dollar spending decisions. We’ll wait to see if anyone develops a campaign to explain why that’s a bad idea. Someone will have to sell the proposed amendment to the electorate and to us, for that matter.