Arkansas election board to sanction county officials over issues with hand-counted ballots

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The State Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday voted to sanction election officials in one Arkansas county where several hand-counted ballot mistakes occurred during the primary election.

Commissioners did not explicitly state which county’s board of election commissioners would receive the sanctions; however, only officials in Searcy County hand-counted ballots in March.

The investigation into the county that hand-counted ballots was among six that the SBEC considered at its meeting, all of which were discussed with some confidentiality. Reports remain private until 30 days after county officials accept the sanction, or deny it and prompt a public hearing.

Arkansas election board to sanction county officials over issues with hand-counted ballots

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Chris Madison, director of the State Board of Election Commissioners, leads a meeting in Little Rock on July 15, 2024.

Lawmakers approve voter registration signature rule

From the Arkansas Advocate:

An Arkansas legislative committee on Thursday reviewed and approved an emergency rule that permits electronic signatures on voter registration applications only when they’re completed at certain state agencies.

The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners last week gave initial approval to the rule, which requires paper registration applications to include a “wet signature,” meaning an applicant signs with a pen.

Board Director Chris Madison told the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Executive Subcommittee on Thursday that the rule was designed to create consistency because electronic signatures were being accepted by some county clerks and rejected by others.

Lawmakers approve voter registration signature rule

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Rep. Bruce Cozart (L) and Sen. Terry Rice (R) listen to Arkansas Board of Election Commissioner Director Chris Madison discuss a new voter registration rule during a legislative committee meeting on May 2, 2024.

Arkansas lawmakers to examine new voter registration signature rule

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

An Arkansas legislative committee on Thursday will consider an emergency rule that permits electronic signatures on voter registration applications only when they’re completed at certain state agencies.

If approved, the emergency rule would require paper registration applications to include a “wet signature,” meaning an applicant signs with a pen.

The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners approved the emergency rule last Tuesday. Director Chris Madison said the rule is designed to create consistency because currently, electronic signatures are accepted by some county clerks and rejected by others.

Arkansas lawmakers to examine new voter registration signature rule