LITTLE ROCK -- Covid-19's spread through the Natural State now casts doubts on some of what and who Arkansans will vote for in November.

The virus has stolen the primary canvassing period from independent candidates and ballot initiative groups who rely on public events and warmer weather in early spring to gather signatures of registered voters to gain access to the ballot.

Two groups circulating petitions to put various constitutional amendments on November's ballot formally suspended their efforts on Thursday as they wait to see what the public health landscape looks like in a few weeks. Other groups and candidates have drastically scaled back their efforts, focusing on signature gathering among family and friends and mail.

In interviews this week, canvassing group leaders said they are concerned, but for the most part, remained hopeful that petitioning will be able to continue in time to gather enough signatures prior to the July 3 deadline to submit them to Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston for validation.

Arkansas Voters First hopes to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would create a new commission charged with legislative and congressional redistricting every 10 years. It won't be gathering signatures until "the world returns to normal," said spokesman George Shelton.

"Obviously, this is a completely unheard of circumstance, so we're working to adjust our strategy," he said. "We'll use the next few weeks to make sure our signature gathering operation is completely fine-tuned. Once everything is lifted, we want to hit the ground running."

- read the rest of the article here