LITTLE ROCK—Opponents of a proposal that would ban unmarried couples living together from adopting or fostering children said Aug. 19 they plan to challenge the measure in court if it’s approved for the fall general election ballot.

Debbie Willhite, lead consultant for Arkansas Families First, said the campaign against the proposed initiated act is already preparing to petition the Arkansas Supreme Court if the secretary of state’s office says backers of the proposal have submitted enough signatures.

“We do intend to enjoin the initiative,” Willhite said.

Last month, backers of the initiative submitted signatures to get the measure on the November ballot, but fell short of the necessary 61,794 necessary signatures. The committee got another 30 days to gather more signatures.

Willhite said her group has been going through the signatures and petitions submitted to find more names that she believes should have been tossed out by the secretary of state’s office.