Voters in Arkansas can begin heading to the polls for school and special elections with key ballots on taxes, fire dues, and millage increases.

Two dozen states allow citizens to propose ballot measures. But Republican lawmakers in many of those states are now adding hurdles to those efforts, saying they want to combat fraud.

A lawsuit over grassroots Republicans' attempt to close their party primary was dismissed from federal court, but plaintiffs said they will fight on in the "War for Conservatism."

It’s not just Arkansas. Other state legislatures — especially those with GOP majorities — are looking for ways to rein in direct democracy.

Citizen activists could find it harder to get initiatives on next year's ballot in some states. Lawmakers in about a dozen states have advanced roughly 40 measures this year that would restrict or revamp the citizen initiative process.

Voters across parts of Arkansas are heading to the polls this week to take part in various school and special elections.