2004 Arkansas Amendment 3

Referendum to ban same-sex marriage February 2026 September 2023 Amendment 3 For Against 753,770 251,914 1,054,945 1,686,124 62.47 210px County resultsYes #28497C 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #47729E 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid Source:Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 - Certified 2004 General Election and Non-Partisan Judicial Runoff Voter Turnout November 2, 2004 Arkansas “A proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution providing that marriage consists only of the union of one man and one woman; that 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; and that 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.”October 27, 2004 Sample Ballots https://www.newspapers.com/article/baxter-bulletin-2004-arkansas-amendment/206053543/ September 15, 2026 The Baxter Bulletin Newspapers.com 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.CNN.com Election 2004 - Ballot Measures Accessed 30 November 2006. Contents The text of the amendment states:Arkansas State Constitution https://web.archive.org/web/20081003133712/http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/data/constitution/ArkansasConstitution1874.pdf October 3, 2008 , 83rd Amendment, Arkansas Legislature. Accessed 18 December 2006. 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. Results Amendment 3 753770 251914 51.07 1969208 May 2014 Court Ruling on Amendment 3 and Arkansas Statutes Same-sex marriage in Arkansas LGBT rights in Arkansas 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.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-gaymarriage-arkansas-idUSBREA480VB20140509 Arkansas judge strikes down state ban on same-sex marriage Reuters May 9, 2014 May 9, 2014 See also LGBT rights in Arkansas References External links The Money Behind the 2004 Marriage Amendments https://web.archive.org/web/20120328224424/http://www.followthemoney.org/press/ReportView.phtml?r=236&ext=17 2012-03-28 OpenSecrets Category:U.S. state constitutional amendments banning same-sex unions Category:2004 in LGBTQ history Amendment 3 Category:2004 ballot measures in the United States Category:Arkansas ballot measures Category:Initiatives in the United States Category:LGBTQ rights in Arkansas Category:Same-sex marriage ballot measures in the United States Category:Amendments to the Constitution of Arkansas Category:Marriage in Arkansas