Besides deciding on a new US President, Fayetteville Mayor and local City Council Aldermen, you’ll find five other ballot issues when you vote this year. We’ll do our best to let you know what’s up with each one. Don’t hesitate to chime in and correct us if we’re wrong. Cool?

We’ve covered The Arkansas State Lottery Initiative a few times over the last year (this post being the most popular) and to us, this one’s pretty self-explanatory.

If passed, The State Lottery Initiative would establish a state lottery in Arkansas, with the proceeds used to create scholarships for students attending two- and four-year colleges.

Some say lotteries prey on the poor and are morally wrong while others don’t buy into that mentality at all. In fact, neither does the majority of the United States. Arkansas is one of only eight states that does not currently have a state lottery.

The next time you make a student loan payment for yourself, your spouse or your children (or all three!) consider this: In Georgia, the state lottery provides complete funding for anyone who maintains a “B” average. In other words, for those who can keep their grades up, all fees (books included) are paid for in full and there is no such thing as a student loan payment.

Whether you believe that Arkansas should have a lottery or not, you should have the right to cast your vote on the issue and thanks to Lt. Governor Bill Halter, that vote is now a reality. Make yourself heard on this one.

Who supports this: HOPE for Arkansas
Who opposes this: Family Council Action Committee