KUAR | By Daniel Breen
Arkansas election officials reject more absentee ballots than all but one other state.
State-reported data show about 1,100 of the 15,000 total mail-in ballots received in 2022 were thrown out.
KUAR spoke with Arkansas Times Managing Editor Benji Hardy about his story looking at some of the potential reasons for Arkansas’ high rejection rate.
John Minchillo/AP
A voter fills out a ballot at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati.
by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)
The League of Women Voters and the immigrant advocacy group Arkansas United have filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Pulaski County challenging new voting laws passed by the Arkansas Legislature that the plaintiffs say will make it harder to vote, particularly for minorities.
The press release refers to new laws it says will require election officials to match absentee voters’ signatures to their original voter registration application; remove the option for voters without an identification to instead present a sworn statement in order to have their ballots counted; move up the deadline to drop off absentee ballots to the Friday before Election Day while still allowing absentee ballots to arrive by mail on Election Day; and prohibit anyone except voters from entering and remaining within 100 feet of a polling place.
https://talkbusiness.net/2021/05/league-of-women-voters-files-suit-against-new-election-laws/
The Arkansas House has passed a bill that makes a variety of changes to the state’s absentee voting process.
Members voted 74-22 Thursday, largly on bipartisan lines, in favor of House Bill 1715. It now goes to the Senate.
Some changes the bill includes are: denying absentee ballots to voters if signatures don’t match between their application and voter registration application, and not allowing county clerks or other designated officials to give to voters "unsolicited absentee ballot applications."
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-modifying-absentee-voting-process-passes-arkansas-house
Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, presents House Bill 1715 to the House floor.
CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE
With the general election less than two weeks away, Arkansans currently have three ways to vote: on Election Day, Nov. 3, during early voting which runs until Nov. 2, or with an absentee ballot, where the deadline to apply to receive one by mail is Oct. 27.
On the Arkansas absentee ballot application itself, voters must choose between three options for requesting a ballot.
Arkansas County Clerks See Uptick In Absentee Ballot Requests, But Feel Prepared For 2020 Election
With the general election less than two weeks away, Arkansans currently have three ways to vote: on Election Day, Nov. 3, during early voting which runs until Nov. 2, or with an absentee ballot, where the deadline to apply to receive one by mail is Oct. 27.
A lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the League of Women Voters of Arkansas to alter the process for accounting for absentee ballots this fall. The lawsuit claims the state's requirements for accepting absentee ballots is unconstitutional, and seeks a court-ordered change before the Nov. 3 general election.
The lawsuit – League of Women Voter of Arkansas v. Thurston – was filed in federal court against Secretary of State John Thurston and several members of the State Board of Election Commissioners.
League Of Women Voters Files Lawsuit Over Arkansas Absentee Ballot Process
A lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the League of Women Voters of Arkansas to alter the process for accounting for absentee ballots this fall. The lawsuit claims the state's requirements for accepting absentee ballots is unconstitutional, and seeks a court-ordered change before the Nov. 3 general election.
According to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office, about 42,000 Arkansans cast absentee ballots in the 2018 election. Officials say that number could double or triple due as more people vote absentee because of the pandemic. Voters are being urged to vote early to ensure their ballots arrive on time and planning ahead is just one complexity facing Arkansans casting their ballots from overseas.
https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansans-abroad-face-absentee-voting-issues
Arkansans Abroad Face Absentee Voting Issues
According to the Arkansas Secretary of State's office, about 42,000 Arkansans cast absentee ballots in the 2018 election. Officials say that number could double or triple due as more people vote absentee because of the pandemic. Voters are being urged to vote early to ensure their ballots arrive on time and planning ahead is just one complexity facing Arkansans casting their ballots from overseas.