Bankers boxes filled with more than 100,000 signatures in support of putting an abortion measure on Novembers ballot were dropped off at the Arkansas State Capitol on Friday. On Wednesday, the state’s attorney government said they did not have the required accompanying documents. Photo courtesy of Arkansans for Limited Government/Facebook
July 11 (UPI) — Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston has rejected a petition to put an abortion rights measure on November’s ballot over organizers failing to submit all required paperwork.
Arkansans for Limited Government has sought to put an amendment on the general election ballot to enshrine unlimited access to abortion services up to 18 weeks of gestation into the state’s Constitution. On deadline Friday, they wheeled banker boxes containing some 100,000 signatures into the Arkansas State Capitol to qualify.
“Delivery day dump,” it had said last week in confirmation on Facebook. “Feeling overwhelmed by the energy and excitement from everyone who worked so hard to get this done.”
On Wednesday, Thurston, a Republican, said in a letter to the group that its organizers failed to provide a statement identifying paid canvassers by name and another indicating that a copy of the secretary of state’s handbook on initiatives and referenda had been provided to each paid canvasser who had the requirements for obtaining signatures explained to them.
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“You did not submit any statements meeting this requirement. By contrast, other sponsors of initiative petitions complied with this requirement. Therefore, I must reject your submission,” Thorn wrote in the letter.
He continued that even if their failure to submit the documents did not require for their application to be rejected, it would mean that signatures collected by paid canvassers could not be counted, and because of that their application would not meet the required 90,704 signatures.
According to his letter, the group submitted 101,525 signatures, of which 14,143 were collected by paid canvassers. With the reduction, they would have a total 87,382 signatures collected by volunteers, which is 3,222 signatures short.
“Even if I could accept your submission, I would be forced to find that your petition is insufficient on its face for failure to obtain the required 90,704 signatures,” he said.
Arkansans for Limited Government called the disqualification “ridiculous” and that they provided Thurston’s office with a list of their paid canvassers and all required information associated with their employment.
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It said in a late Wednesday statement that they worked with his office “during every step of the process” and it was his office that supplied them with the affidavit paperwork they used.
“At multiple junctures — including on July 5 inside of the Capitol Building — we discussed signature submission requirements with the secretary of state’s staff,” it said.
“Until today, we had no reason not to trust that the paperwork they supplied us was correct and complete.”
It also accused Thurston of making “an unfounded legal interpretation” of Arkansas law in order to declare its application incomplete.
“More than 101,000 Arkansans participated in this heroic act of direct democracy and stood up to loudly proclaim their support for access to healthcare. They deserve better than a state government that seeks to silence them,” it said while vowing to fight the disqualification.
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Meanwhile, Arkansas state Sen. Ben Gilmore, a Republican, declared Wednesday “a great day for life in Arkansas.”
“The secretary of state’s office officially rejected the Arkansas abortion amendment, and it will not appear on the ballot in November,” Gilmore said on X.
“Life is the most basic God-given human right and Arkansas will continue to protect the lives of our unborn children.”
Since the conservative-leaning Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in June 2022, repealing federal protections for abortion, there has been a movement to protect access to the medical practice via state-level legislation and constitutional amendments.
This year, up to 11 states may have abortion measures on the ballot, according to the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation, which is focused on healthcare policy.
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Pro-abortion organizers in Arizona and Nebraska last week also said they had enough signatures to put a similar abortion measure on their states’ November ballots.
FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas softball team kicked down the door it had spent years knocking on Saturday night at Bogle Park.
After years of coming painfully close, the Razorbacks finally broke through with a 10-2 victory over Duke to punch the program’s first ticket to the Women’s College World Series. The game ended in the fifth inning due to a run rule.
It was a triumphant scene for the Razorbacks after the game’s final out — a ball caught in foul territory by third baseman Ella McDowell. When saw the ball in her glove, it became reality.
Arkansas (47-11) will play on college softball’s biggest stage at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
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The Razorbacks will begin their WCWS stay with a game against Nebraska on Thursday at a time to be announced at the conclusion of all super regionals.
“We knew it was going to happen,” Arkansas coach Courtney Deifel said through tears postgame. “And it’s a really great feeling to know it’s going to happen. This team was poised for it and they’re ready. I’m just so proud of them.”
Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel (right) and players celebrate, Saturday, May 23, 2026, following the Razorbacks’ 10-2 run-rule win over Duke in the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional at Bogle Park. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)
Deifel, who inherited a program stuck at the bottom of the SEC 11 years ago, was visibly emotional as she was swarmed by players and assistant coaches in celebration.
Fireworks blasted as players ran to pile around pitcher Payton Burnham in the circle and the full-capacity crowd erupted. After hoisting a trophy and calling the Hogs with fans, players ran up the bleachers and paraded around the concourse to celebrate with fans. They continued through the outfield berm through a sea of red that packed the park to see history made.
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Celebrations continued well over an hour after the game ended.
“Those were some of the tightest hugs,” Deifel said. “Literally, my breath has been [tight] because of the embrace and the emotions. It’s everything. Seeing our players go through our fans … they showed up for us. Our players have put on a show for them all year, and they brought it today. You could feel them at the end. They knew it was coming.”
The writing was on the wall when Karlie Davison, a senior, parked a 3-run home run over the wall in right-center field in a 6-run fifth inning. Her final at-bat at Bogle Park put the game within reach of a run rule, and Burnham shut the door in the bottom of the inning.
“That’s pretty cool,” Davison said. “Glory to God, truly, It was a really special moment.”
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Arkansas second baseman Karlie Davison high-fives third-base coach Matt Meuchel while rounding the bases after hitting a 3-run home run, Saturday, May 23, 2026, during the fifth inning of the Razorbacks’ 10-2 run-rule win over Duke in the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional at Bogle Park. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)
Arkansas became the first team since Arizona in 1995 to win its first five games of the NCAA Tournament by run rule. The Wildcats finished as the national runner-up that season.
“You’ve just got to be plus one,” Deifel said. “That’s always our goal. It’s great because the team that we were being compared to … that team was incredible.”
Fans had to wait a little longer to get the clinching game underway due to a rain delay that caused first pitch to be delayed 65 minutes to 5:05 p.m. It didn’t deter them from staying, and they got something to cheer about early.
Tianna Bell got the party started with a 2-run home run to left field in the top of the first inning. The Razorbacks batted first due to NCAA postseason procedures.
Bell’s homer was her second in as many days against the Blue Devils, and was her team-leading 18th of the year. It was a no-doubter that landed in the parking lot.
“It’s all of ours to share,” Deifel said. “When we got here, we knew that if we gave them a product they were proud of, they’d show up for us. Razorback fans are the best, and they’ve continued to prove that. I mean, they beat me to the field this morning.”
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Arkansas had early opportunities to further the damage but left the bases loaded in both the first and third innings. The Razorbacks had 5 hits against Duke starting left-hander Cassidy Curd, who was replaced by right-hander Mallory Wheeler to begin the fourth inning.
Atalyia Rijo gave Arkansas some extra breathing room when she delivered a 2-out double down the first-base line with the bases loaded. It grew the lead to 4-0.
Burnham, a sophomore right-hander, carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning.
She gave up a 1-out single to Jessica Oakland and a 2-run homer to left field by Tyrina Jones that trimmed the lead to 4-2. Those were some of the only mistakes she made.
Burnham (14-3) tossed a 3-hit gem and kept a powerful Duke offense guessing all night with 6 strikeouts, 5 groundouts and 4 flyouts.
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“P wants the moment,” Deifel said. “She thrived in that moment, and I’m just really proud of her.”
Arkansas pitcher Payton Burnham (center, left) and teammates celebrate, Saturday, May 23, 2026, following the Razorbacks’ 10-2 run-rule win over Duke in the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional at Bogle Park. (Hank Layton/WholeHogSports)
The Razorbacks countered the Blue Devils’ runs with a big top of the fifth inning, which started with a Kennedy Miller double, Reagan Johnson bunt single, and Brinli Bain walk to load the bases with no outs.
McDowell then delivered a 2-run single up the middle to put Arkansas up 6-2, and a run-scoring groundout by Dakota Kennedy and Davison’s blast put the Razorbacks up 10-2.
Her home run gave Arkansas the 8-run margin needed to enforce a run rule with a scoreless bottom of the inning.
“I was just trying to just find a way on base,” Davison said. “It was kind of in the back of my mind, but I knew I wasn’t trying to do too much. I realty just surrendered that at-bat to the Lord, and was just like, ‘OK, whatever I have to do, just get a good strike. And if I don’t get it done, [Rijo] is going to get it done right behind me.’”
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Burnham put the finishing touches on her performance with a pair of strikeouts and the game-ending out in foul territory. It made her the winning pitcher for the most impactful victory in program history.
“This is why I came to be a Razorback, to play for Coach [Deifel], and to do this for the first time” Burnham said. “I just could not be more grateful to play for her.”
The Razorbacks had won two super regional games in program history prior to this weekend. They doubled that total within a 26-hour span.
Arkansas and Nebraska are among four teams that have clinched a WCWS berth, joining Tennessee and Alabama. Others with a chance to clinch Saturday include Arizona State and UCLA.
“We’ll get locked back in, but we are going to enjoy this,” Deifel said. “This is really hard to do.”
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Box Score
Arkansas 10, Duke 2.pdf
Highlights
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Ethan Westerman
EWesterman@wholehogsports.com
Ethan Westerman is a reporter for WholeHogSports covering Arkansas football, men’s and women’s basketball and softball. He has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and marketing from the University of Arkansas.
