Voting Access Scorecard - The franchise project

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Voting Access Scorecard - Arkansas

The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Arkansas. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.

Currently, Arkansas ranks 42. But you can make a difference! Take action now!

Overall score: 12.5 / 30

Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality

State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/voterRegistration.aspx		N
State offers Election Day registration
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/voterRegistration.aspx		N
State has automatic registration
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/voterRegistration.aspx		N
State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification)
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/voterRegistration.aspx		Y
State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes
Must be a willful or intentional violation for fine/penalty. Ark. Code § 5-1-107: http://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-5-criminal-offenses/ar-code-sect-5-1-107.html Ark. Code § 5-4-201: http://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2010/title-5/subtitle-1/chapter-4/subchapter-2/5-4-201 Ark. Code § 5-4-401: http://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2010/title-5/subtitle-1/chapter-4/subchapter-4/5-4-401 Ark. Code § 7-4-120: http://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-7-elections/ar-code-sect-7-4-120.html		Y
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county
Locations are determined by local county officials. Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		V
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		Y
State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		Y
State holds all elections entirely by mail
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		N
State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		N
State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery)
An absentee ballot must be returned by the close of the business day the day before the Election (in-person); must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day (by mail). Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		N
State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/absenteeVoting.aspx		N
State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/absenteeVoting.aspx		N
State allows voters to register online
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/voterRegistration.aspx		N
State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online
Arkansas Secretary of State: https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/VoterView/PollingPlaceSearch.do		Y
State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online
Arkansas Secretary of State: https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/VoterView/AbsenteeBallotSearch.do		Y
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day
In 2017, the Arkansas legislature passed a new voter ID law that required verification of voter registration. Voters without ID can sign an affidavit attesting to being registered in the state, allowing them to vote by regular ballot. 2017 Arkansas Laws Act 633 (H.B. 1047): http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/2017R/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=HB1047		N
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail
In 2017, the Arkansas legislature passed a new voter ID law that required verification of voter registration. Voters without ID can sign an affidavit attesting to being registered in the state, allowing them to vote by regular ballot. 2017 Arkansas Laws Act 633 (H.B. 1047): http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/2017R/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=HB1047		N
If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all)
In 2017, the Arkansas legislature passed a new voter ID law that required verification of voter registration. Voters without ID can sign an affidavit attesting to being registered in the state, allowing them to vote by regular ballot. 2017 Arkansas Laws Act 633 (H.B. 1047): http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/2017R/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=HB1047		Y
During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form
Arkansas Const. Amend. 51, sec. 11(f)(2): http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/Summary/ArkansasConstitution1874.pdf 		Y
State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck
Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) 		N
State is Member of ERIC
ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) 		N
State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request
Arkansas Times: https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2017/07/05/mark-martin-will-partially-comply-with-trumps-voter-data-request		N
State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		Y
State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		N
State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/2016Voting101.pdf		N
State voting technology requires a paper trail
Ark. Code § 7-5-504: http://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-7-elections/ar-code-sect-7-5-504.html Ark. Code § 7-5-532: http://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-7-elections/ar-code-sect-7-5-532.html		Y
State requires poll worker training
Only one election official at each polling site is required to attend an election training coordinated by the State Board of Election Commissioners within 12 months prior to the election. Ark. Code § 7-4-107(b)(1)(B): http://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-7-elections/ar-code-sect-7-4-107.html		Y
State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification
Ark. Code § 7-5-503: http://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2014/title-7/chapter-5/subchapter-5/section-7-5-503/ Ark. Code § 7-5-504: http://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2014/title-7/chapter-5/subchapter-5/section-7-5-504/ 		N
State provides readily accessible voting technology information
Arkansas Secretary of State: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Pages/voterResources.aspx		Y

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