SB196

Senate Bill 196 amends the process for filling vacancies on county boards of election commissioners in Arkansas. Under the new law, when a vacancy occurs, the county chair of the appropriate political party will make an initial appointment to fill the seat until a formal election can be conducted by the county committee. If no county chair is available, the appointment authority shifts to the state chair of the party. The county committee is required to hold an election to fill the vacancy within 45 days. Should the committee fail to meet this deadline, the state chair of the party is authorized to appoint a new member to the commission, potentially reappointing the individual who served in the interim.