Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas Senate Bill SB296 Latest Draft

Bill / Chaptered Version Filed 03/12/2025

                            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 
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State of Arkansas     1 
95th General Assembly A Bill     2 
Regular Session, 2025  	SENATE BILL 296 3 
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By: Senator K. Hammer 5 
By: Representative Beaty Jr. 6 
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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 
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Subtitle 14 
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE 15 
DESIGNATION OF AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION 16 
BY THE COUNTY CLERK. 17 
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 19 
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 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 
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 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 
 
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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 
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 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 
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 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 
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APPROVED: 3/12/25 23 
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