Arkansas election board approves voter registration rule

A permanent rule requiring “wet signatures” on Arkansas voter registration forms except at select state agencies was approved by the State Board of Election Commissioners Monday morning.

Following the rule’s approval, which had no voiced dissent, the board also voted to submit it to the Arkansas Legislative Council’s rule committee for consideration at its August meeting. If approved, the rule prohibiting electronic signatures would take effect Sept. 1. An emergency rule is already in place but has been challenged in court.

Chris Madison, director of the board, briefed commissioners on comments the agency received related to the rule prior to their vote. He said 200 online comments were received during a 30-day period, and 16 people spoke against the rule during a public hearing last week.

Madison described the concerns from those in opposition as categories: “in favor of online voter registration systems, wet signatures outdated, e-signatures allowed by law, low voter registration, turnout rates, access to voter registration, access to printing facilities, conduction for officials and the generally that the rule is disenfranchising voters.”





https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/07/15/arkansas-election-board-approves-voter-registration-rule/