Union County residents to vote on whether monument stays

The Union County Quorum Court voted Thursday to refer the issue of whether to keep or relocate the Confederate monument on county Courthouse grounds to the electorate. Read more about it in Friday's edition of the News-Times. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
The Union County Quorum Court voted Thursday to refer the issue of whether to keep or relocate the Confederate monument on county Courthouse grounds to the electorate. Read more about it in Friday's edition of the News-Times. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)

Present members of the Union County Quorum Court voted unanimously Thursday to refer the issue of whether to keep or relocate the Confederate monument on county Courthouse grounds to the county's electorate.

After reviewing public opinion, as well as learning about the legalities of the monument's potential removal, Justice of the Peace Carolyn Jones, who chairs the newly-formed monument committee, which was put together after a local resident asked the Quorum Court for the monument's removal from Courthouse grounds at their June meeting, said she felt the matter was best left up to the voters of Union County.

"I still feel like the silent majority has not spoken, and the only way we can be sure that everybody's voice has been heard would be to put this on the ballot," Jones said.

She moved to approve an ordinance that would keep the monument on Courthouse grounds, which was unanimously approved by all present JPs. Following the ordinance's approval, Jones moved to adopt a resolution that would put the matter on the upcoming general election ballot.

Union County residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether to keep or relocate the monument on November 3. Gov. Asa Hutchinson has also approved absentee voting for any Arkansans that feel unsafe voting in person due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Arkansans must be registered to vote by October 5 to participate in the November general election, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State.

Read more in tomorrow's edition of the News-Times.

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