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Same-Sex Marriage Ban | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes
80–90%
70–80%
60–70% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1][2] |
Elections in Arkansas |
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Constitutional Amendment 3 of 2004, is an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that makes it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. The referendum was approved by 75% of the voters.[3]
The text of the amendment states:[4]
Marriage. Marriage consists only of the union of one man and one woman.
- Marital status. Legal status for unmarried persons which is identical or substantially similar to marital status shall not be valid or recognized in Arkansas, except that the legislature may recognize a common law marriage from another state between a man and a woman.
- Capacity, rights, obligations, privileges, and immunities. The legislature has the power to determine the capacity of persons to marry, subject to this amendment, and the legal rights, obligations, privileges, and immunities of marriage.
Choice | Votes | % |
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Yes | 753,770 | 74.95 |
No | 251,914 | 25.04 |
Total votes | 1,005,684 | 100.00 |
Registered voters/turnout | 1,969,208 | 51.07 |
On May 9, 2014, Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Chris Piazza ruled the ban on same-sex marriage in the state of Arkansas was unconstitutional, which legalized same-sex marriage in the state. Previously same-sex marriage was banned by both state statute and the state constitution in Arkansas. Subject to court stays and appeals.[5]