An act TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF 10 AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION BY THE COUNTY CLERK, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas             A Bill
2 95th General Assembly

3 Regular Session, 2025                                           SENATE BILL 296

4

5 By: Senator K. Hammer

6 By: Representative Beaty Jr.

7

8                               For An Act To Be Entitled

9       AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF

10      AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION BY THE COUNTY CLERK; AND FOR

11      OTHER PURPOSES.

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14                              Subtitle

15                       TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE

16                       DESIGNATION OF AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION

17                       BY THE COUNTY CLERK.

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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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21      SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 7-5-101(d)(1), concerning the establishment

22 and alteration of precinct boundaries, polling sites, and vote centers, is

23 amended to read as follows:

24      (d)(1)(A) Except for school elections under � 6-14-106, the The

25 polling sites for each election shall be the same as those established for

26 the immediately preceding general election unless changed by order of the

27 county board of election commissioners.

28                       (B) Subdivision (d)(1)(A) of this section does not apply

29 to:

30                              (i) A school election under � 6-14-106; or

31                              (ii) An additional early voting location chosen by

32 the county board of election commissioners.

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34      SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 7-5-401(b), concerning the duties of the

35 county clerk, is amended to read as follows:

36      (b) The county clerk shall be furnished a suitable room at the county

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                                                                            SB296

1 courthouse or other location within the county seat designated for the

2 purpose of exercising all the powers and duties concerning the application

3 for, the issuance of, and the voting of absentee and early voting ballots

4 required by law of the county clerk.

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6   SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 7-5-418(a)(1)(A), concerning early voting,

7 is amended to read as follows:

8   (a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this section,

9 early voting shall be available to any qualified elector who applies to the

10 county clerk's designated early voting location within the county seat,

11 beginning fifteen (15) days before a preferential primary or general election

12 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00

13 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Saturday and ending at 5:00 p.m. on the Monday before the

14 election.

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16  SECTION 4. Arkansas Code � 7-5-418(b)(1)(B), concerning early voting,

17 is amended to read as follows:

18            (B) The For each election, the county board of election

19 commissioners shall determine by unanimous vote the location of additional

20 polling sites for early voting.

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