Circuit Judge Grisham Phillips has scheduled a hearing in his court at 1:30 p.m. Monday to implement Friday’s Arkansas Supreme Court order that he consider additional signatures submitted to put a local option alcohol election on the Saline County ballot.
Phillips had blocked the measure, holding that — after a review of previously certified signatures — enough should be disqualified to leave the measure several dozen short. But he did not count 720 additional valid signatures that weren’t included in the county clerk’s initial count when it was certified. The Supreme Court said they should be considered.
Backers of the proposal believe Friday’s order cleared the way to count the votes. The measure is on the ballot and voters are allowed to indicate a preference. The pending question is whether the votes may be counted when the election is over.