LITTLE ROCK—Voters have approved a measure banning unmarried Arkansas couples who are living together from serving as adoptive or foster parents, imposing a ban that the Legislature balked at adopting. Arkansans approved a measure creating a statewide lottery, overcoming history to overturn a ban set in the state’s constitution since 1874.

More than 56 percent of voters supported the ban, said by its proponents to be aimed primarily at keeping gays from becoming foster or adoptive parents. The measure’s sponsor, the Arkansas Family Council, tried to paint its proposal as a battle against a “gay agenda.” The conservative group successfully pushed for an amendment banning same-sex marriage four years ago.

Opponents of the measure argued it would make it harder for the state to find the foster parents it needs to take care of children.

The measure grew out of a 2006 Arkansas Supreme Court decision that struck down a state policy banning gay foster parents. A push to enact a ban similar to the ballot measure during the last legislative session failed.

About two-thirds of voters supported the lottery measure championed by Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, which will fund college scholarships through ticket sales. About 36 percent cast votes against the measure.

“I think Arkansans are saying with a very loud voice that they want to improve the affordability and the accessibility of college for our students,” Halter said.

Though the state Legislature ultimately would design the lottery games, Halter’s campaign feels the lottery could draw in millions for Arkansas, some of which is already heading out to surrounding states. During his run for governor in the Democratic primary, Halter said a lottery could bring in as much as $250 million, a figure that he said was based on lottery revenue in Georgia. Now, Halter’s Hope for Arkansas committee estimates a lottery could bring in $100 million, a per-capita estimate based on net lottery proceeds for each of Arkansas’ surrounding states with lotteries.

However, opponents worry the lottery will subsidize the scholarships on the backs of the state’s poor. The Arkansas Family Council also argued before the state’s highest court that the measure could potentially allow casinos in a Bible Belt state leery of