Ozark Voters To Decide On Entertainment District: Election Day Set For Nov. 18
Voters in Ozark will decide the fate of a downtown entertainment district next week, thanks to a citizen-initiated referendum on the ballot for a special election.
When And Where Can I Vote?
Early voting is underway, and voters can cast their ballots at the Ozark Training Room, 120 S. 2nd Street, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, through Friday, Nov. 14, as well as Monday, Nov. 17. There will be no early voting available on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 18, when polls will be open from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at the North Franklin County Building, 806 N. 29th Street in Ozark.
What Am I Voting For Or Against?
Voters will decide whether to keep or repeal the Ozark city ordinance 2025-3 that established an entertainment district.
Casting a “For” vote means the voter is in favor of the city ordinance establishing the entertainment district and votes to keep the ordinance in place.
An “Against” vote means the voter is not in favor of the ordinance, does not want an entertainment district in Ozark and votes to repeal the city ordinance and cancel the entertainment district.
Residents of the city of Ozark who are registered voters can vote in the special election.
Ozark City Council members voted in April to establish a permanent entertainment district with the following boundaries:
–The intersection north of Commercial Street, from 4th Street east to 2nd Street.
–The block of 3rd Street to College Street, east to 2nd Street.
–The intersection south of Commercial Street, from 4th Street east to 1st Street.
–The intersection of Main Street and 3rd Street, east to the Anderson Building.
–Riverview Plaza on River Street, west to 3rd Street.
Hours for the entertainment district were established as Thursdays, 5 p.m.-midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-midnight.
What Is An Entertainment District?
Arkansas Act 812 of 2019 granted towns and cities the authority to establish entertainment districts to promote tourism and hospitality in their communities. It allows adults 21 and older who visit entertainment districts to buy alcoholic beverages and walk around the district.
The law states districts must be located in commercial areas with businesses such as restaurants, taprooms, taverns, music venues, and hospitality and entertainment establishments.
Businesses who participate in the entertainment district will be required to have a sign posted in the window indicating individuals can enter the business with alcoholic drinks. Businesses participating in the sale of alcohol will be required to serve the drinks in paper, foam or plastic cups imprinted with the entertainment district logo.
Participating businesses will also be required to provide each adult consuming alcohol with a wristband, which must be worn while the individual is walking throughout the district. Sales of alcoholic beverages will be limited to one open container per adult.
Only drinks purchased at participating businesses will be allowed in the entertainment district, and drinks in cans, bottles or glass containers are prohibited.
What Is A Referendum Election?
According to the Public Policy Center at the UA System Division of Agriculture, Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizens have the right to put constitutional amendments, state laws and referendums on the ballot for voters to decide. It is the only state in the south with this robust form of direct democracy.
The citizen-initiative process involves filing a ballot title with the attorney general’s office, collecting voter signatures across the state and submitting the petitions to the secretary of state’s office for verification.
In Ozark, individuals opposed to the entertainment district created a local-option ballot committee, Residents Organizing Ozark To Stand (ROOTS), to collect signatures from registered voters in Ozark in order to put the city ordinance on the ballot for voters to decide.
Campaigns must collect signatures from at least 15% of the number of people who voted for mayor in the last general election to qualify a referendum for the ballot.
(Information compiled from a Fact Sheet published by the Public Policy Center at the UA System Division of Agriculture.)
Find this story and more in the Nov. 12 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe here to support more hometown journalism.
