Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law. Act 282 of the Regular Session Act 282 of the Regular Session *SSS139* 02/25/2025 9:07:28 AM SSS139 State of Arkansas 1 95th General Assembly A Bill 2 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 296 3 4 By: Senator K. Hammer 5 By: Representative Beaty Jr. 6 7 For An Act To Be Entitled 8 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF 9 AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION BY THE COUNTY CLERK; AND FOR 10 OTHER PURPOSES. 11 12 13 Subtitle 14 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE 15 DESIGNATION OF AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION 16 BY THE COUNTY CLERK. 17 18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 19 20 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 7 -5-101(d)(1), concerning the establishment 21 and alteration of precinct boundaries, polling sites, and vote centers, is 22 amended to read as follows: 23 (d)(1)(A) Except for school elections under § 6 -14-106, the The 24 polling sites for each election shall be the same as those established for 25 the immediately preceding general election unless changed by order of the 26 county board of election commissioners. 27 (B) Subdivision (d)(1)(A) of this section does not apply 28 to: 29 (i) A school election under § 6 -14-106; or 30 (ii) An additional early voting location chosen by 31 the county board of election commissioners. 32 33 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 7 -5-401(b), concerning the duties of the 34 county clerk, is amended to read as follows: 35 (b) The county clerk shall be furnished a suitable room at the county 36 SB296 2 02/25/2025 9:07:28 AM SSS139 courthouse or other location within the county seat designated for the 1 purpose of exercising all the powers and duties concerning the application 2 for, the issuance of, and the voting of absentee and early voting ballots 3 required by law of the county clerk. 4 5 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 7 -5-418(a)(1)(A), concerning early voting, 6 is amended to read as follows: 7 (a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this section, 8 early voting shall be available to any qualified elector who applies to the 9 county clerk's designated early voting location within the county seat , 10 beginning fifteen (15) days before a preferential primary or general election 11 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 12 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Saturday and ending at 5:00 p.m. on the Monday before the 13 election. 14 15 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 7 -5-418(b)(1)(B), concerning early voting, 16 is amended to read as follows: 17 (B) The For each election, the county board of election 18 commissioners shall determine by unanimous vote the location of additional 19 polling sites for early voting. 20 21 22 APPROVED: 3/12/25 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35