Rockefeller Institute CEO: Arkansas’ low voter turnout part of bigger picture

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Arkansas’ worst-in-the-nation voter registration and turnout rankings are part of a larger challenge of civic engagement that the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute and its partners are working to address.

The Institute has launched the Civic Arkansas initiative to get Arkansans involved not only in the election process but also in their communities.

Janet Harris, executive director and CEO, described what that meant during a speech Tuesday (May 21) before Rotary Club 99 in Little Rock.

“Civic engagement, when we hear that word, we often think about voting, and civic engagement is about voting, but it’s about so much more than that,” she said. “It is about the fabric of our community. It is about how we choose to show up for each other, how we choose to connect with another, how we choose to care about what is happening in the world around us and do something to create the change that we want to see.”

Rockefeller Institute CEO: Arkansas’ low voter turnout part of bigger picture

Why does Arkansas reject so many absentee ballots?

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.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-08-16/why-does-arkansas-reject-so-many-absentee-ballots

John Minchillo/AP

A voter fills out a ballot at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati.

Poll: Undecideds rule in Arkansas Supreme Court contests

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll of Arkansas voters finds that two incumbent Supreme Court justices lead in their re-election bids, but undecided voters could easily alter the final results.

The survey, conducted Monday, May 2, gathered opinions from 1,436 likely voters and has a margin of error of +/-3.6%. Respondents were asked for whom they planned to vote in the two contested nonpartisan Supreme Court races.

Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 2
23% – Supreme Court Associate Justice Robin Wynne
9% – Judge Chris Carnahan
8% – David Sterling
60% – Don’t know

Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 6
33.5% – Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker
18.5% – Judge Gunner DeLay
48% – Don’t know

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/05/poll-undecideds-rule-in-arkansas-supreme-court-contests/

Arkansas ranks low in report for how it conducts elections

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas ranks low in a new report comparing election integrity in different states in the U.S. The Democracy Initiative Education Fund published the report “Storming State Capitols,” on Wednesday looking at ten factors contributing to election fairness. Out of 51 states, Arkansas ranked second to last in the way it conducts elections, with only Mississippi ranked lower.

The Democracy Initiative Education Fund is a consortium of 75 civil rights, environmental, labor and civic organizations. The report based the conclusions on public data, political scientists, state laws and problems reported by voters.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-04-15/arkansas-ranks-low-in-report-for-how-it-conducts-elections

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

A voter in Little Rock talks with poll workers before casting a ballot on Nov. 6, 2018.

League of Women Voters Files Suit Against New Election Laws

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/

Arkansas House Fails Bill To Eliminating Early Voting On Mondays Before Election Days

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would have eliminated early voting on the day before an Election Day in Arkansas failed in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday, the final full day of the legislative session.

The chamber ultimately did not pass Senate Bill 485, with 39 representatives  voting for it and 43 members voting against it. The bill would have eliminated early voting on the day before either a primary or general election. 

The bill failed three times in a Senate committee and one time in a House committee before ultimately advancing through the legislature and being brought up for a vote in the House Tuesday, where if it had passed, would have gone to Gov. Asa Hutchinson. 

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-house-fails-bill-eliminating-early-voting-mondays-election-days

Rep. Justin Gonzales, R-Okalona, presents Senate Bill 485 to the House.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE

Bill Eliminating Early Voting On The Day Before An Election Again Fails In Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would eliminate early voting in Arkansas on the Monday before an Election Day has failed in a Senate committee for a second time.

During a voice vote Tuesday, members of the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee did not have enough yes votes to advance Senate Bill 485. It would eliminate all early voting in Arkansas on the day before both a preferential primary or general election day.

Four members of the public spoke against the bill, including Joshua Price, an election commissioner with the Pulaski County Election Commission. He addressed claims brought up in the prior hearing on the bill suggesting that poll workers needed a day off before Election Day in order to prepare.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-eliminating-early-voting-day-election-again-fails-committee

Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, again presents Senate Bill 485, to the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee.

CREDIT ARKANSAS SENATE

Democratic Party of Arkansas Again Lowers Filing Fees

By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA

Arkansas Democrats are reducing filing fees for candidates for the third time since 2017. A spokesman for the Republican Party of Arkansas says the organization has no plans to follow suit. Arkansas has some of the most expensive filing fees in the country.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/democratic-party-arkansas-again-lowers-filing-fees

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.

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.

Notice from Sevier County Clerk - Debbie Akin

Reminder that October 5 is last day to register to vote and a reminder to request an application for an absentee ballot. We will begin mailing ballots on September 18. Reminder to keep in mind that you need to act soon if you want to vote absentee by mail. We want all votes to count. The earlier you get your ballot mailed the sooner it can be accounted for. Our office will not be offended if voters want to call to verify that their ballot has been received.

WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF POLL WORKERS. WE WILL BE TRAINING WORKERS SEPTEMBER 28 THROUGH OCTOBER 2. Anyone interested should call 870-642-2852 before September 28.

Thanks
Debbie Akin 
Sevier County Clerk
115 N. 3rd St.
Room 102
De Queen, AR 71832
870-642-2852