Backers of minimum wage increase in Arkansas given 30 more days to gather signatures

July 30, 2018 at 12:03 p.m.

by The Associated Press

In this June 28 photo, Rachelle Tracy signs a petition in downtown Little Rock from canvasser Cynthia Ford in favor of putting a minimum wage hike proposal on the November ballot. Friday is the deadline for initiative campaigns to submit signatures to qualify for the ballot. Ford also circulated petitions for the wage hike proposal, along with proposals to impose strict term limits and to legalize casinos. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)
In this June 28 photo, Rachelle Tracy signs a petition in downtown Little Rock from canvasser Cynthia Ford in favor of putting a minimum wage hike proposal on the November ballot. Friday is the deadline for initiative campaigns to submit signatures to qualify for the ballot. Ford also circulated petitions for the wage hike proposal, along with proposals to impose strict term limits and to legalize casinos. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)

LITTLE ROCK — Supporters of an effort to raise Arkansas' minimum wage have been given an additional 30 days to circulate petitions after falling short of the signatures required to qualify for the November ballot.

Secretary of State Mark Martin's office said Monday it had determined supporters of the wage hike proposal had submitted no more than 52,124 valid signatures. The proposed initiated act needs at least 67,887 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the November ballot.

The proposal would gradually raise Arkansas' minimum age from $8.50 an hour to $11 an hour by 2021.

Martin's office last week gave supporters of a casino legalization measure 30 more days to circulate petitions.

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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