§ 15-20-1318 - Election.
15-20-1318. Election.
(a) (1) Bonds shall not be issued under this subchapter except with the consent of a majority of the qualified electors of the state voting on the question in substantially the form described in this section at the 2008 General Election unless the Governor by proclamation calls a special election before the 2008 General Election.
(2) If the question is presented at the 2008 General Election, notice thereof shall be published by the Secretary of State by one (1) insertion in a newspaper of general circulation in the state at least sixty (60) days prior to the general election, and notice thereof shall be mailed to each county board of election commissioners and the sheriff of each county at least sixty (60) days prior to the general election.
(3) If a special election is called by the Governor, the proclamation of the special election shall be made at least sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed by the proclamation for the election, and notice of the special election shall be given by publication of the proclamation by one (1) insertion in one (1) newspaper of general circulation published in each county in the state not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the special election.
(4) If there is no newspaper regularly published in a county, the proclamation may be published in any newspaper having a general circulation in the county.
(b) In the case of the notice or proclamation for the election, it shall not be necessary to publish this subchapter in its entirety, but the notice or proclamation shall state that it is issued to submit to the people substantially the following question:
"Shall the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission be authorized to issue General Obligation bonds under the authority of the Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2007, for the financing and refinancing of the development of water, waste disposal, water pollution control, abatement and prevention, drainage, irrigation, flood control, and wetlands and aquatic resources projects to serve the citizens of the State of Arkansas, in total principal amount not to exceed Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000), with no more than One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000) of such bonds to be issued to finance and refinance the development of irrigation facilities, in series from time to time in principal amounts not to exceed, without prior approval of the General Assembly, Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000) in any fiscal biennium, which bonds shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas?"
(c) Whether the question is presented at a special election or at the 2008 General Election, the title of this subchapter shall be the ballot title, and there shall be printed on the ballot the proposition as stated above and the following:
"FOR Issuance of State of Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities General Obligation bonds _____
AGAINST Issuance of State of Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities General Obligation bonds _____"
(d) (1) The county boards of election commissioners of the several counties of the state shall hold and conduct the election, and each board may take action with respect to the appointment of election officials and other matters as the law requires.
(2) The vote shall be canvassed and the result declared in each county by the county boards of election commissioners.
(3) Within ten (10) days after the date of the election, the results shall be certified by the county boards of election commissioners to the Secretary of State who shall tabulate all returns received by him or her and certify to the Governor the total vote for and against the proposition submitted under this section.
(e) The result of the election shall be proclaimed by the Governor by publication one (1) time in a newspaper published in the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and the results as proclaimed shall be conclusive unless attacked in the courts within thirty (30) days after the date of the publication.