HB1884
To Amend The Law Concerning The Marking And Counting Of Paper Ballots.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1884 amends Arkansas laws governing the security and processing of paper ballots. The bill mandates that all hand-counted paper ballots must feature a unique watermark or ultraviolet ink seal for each election cycle to enhance ballot security. It establishes specific deadlines for hand counts, requiring completion at least 24 hours before the election certification deadline. If a hand count is not completed by this timeframe, the bill dictates that machine-tabulated results will serve as the official certified results. The bill also sets requirements for poll worker staffing, ensuring a minimum of four workers are available, and outlines procedures for counting continuity if a worker becomes incapacitated. Finally, it provides an exemption to the continuous counting requirement if ballots are secured in double-locking hard-shell boxes within a room guarded at all times by a sheriff’s deputy.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include the Arkansas public and election officials, as the bill introduces stricter security measures and clearer procedural guidelines for hand-counting ballots. These changes are intended to increase transparency, maintain the integrity of election results through mandatory security features like watermarks, and provide defined protocols for when hand-counting processes encounter delays or personnel issues.
Who Might Suffer?
County boards of election commissioners and local government budgets could be negatively impacted due to the increased logistical and financial demands of the legislation. Implementing these requirements may necessitate hiring additional poll workers, purchasing new specialized ballot paper, and allocating funding for sheriff's deputies to provide 24-hour security for ballot storage rooms. Furthermore, poll workers may face increased physical and administrative pressure to meet the strict 24-hour completion deadlines while managing the new security protocols.
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