Signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires voters' signatures on absentee ballots to match the signature from their voter registration application unless the application is sent by electronic means.

Highlights:

• Establishes the possession by a person of more than 4 absentee ballots as a rebuttable presumption of intent to defraud (Sec. 1).

• Requires applications for absentee ballots to be signed by the applicant and verified by the county clerk by checking the voter’s name, address, date of birth, and signature from the voter registration application unless it is sent electronically (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the county clerk from providing an absentee ballot to the voter if the signature on the absentee ballot application and voter registration application is not similar (Sec. 3).

• Requires the county clerk to satisfy themself that the applicant for an absentee ballot is a qualified registered elector in which they claim to be a resident (Sec. 4).

• Requires blanks to be provided on the ballot for the voter to provide their name, signature, mailing address, residential voting address, date of birth, and printed name and address of the administrator or designated bearer (Sec. 6).

• Prohibits the county clerk from distributing the following to qualified voters (Sec. 7):

• Unsolicited absentee ballot application to electors; and

• Unsolicited absentee ballots to electors.

• Authorizes the county clerk to provide the following materials (Sec. 7):

• Display a printable or downloadable absentee ballot application form online;

• Post links to the absentee ballot application form on social media; and

• Make paper copies of absentee ballot application forms available for distribution.

• Requires the county clerk to provide the county board of election commissioners with a daily count of absentee applications received, to be reported weekly or upon request of the county board of election commissioners (Sec. 9).

• Prohibits an absentee ballot from being counted if the county board of election commissioners determines that the absentee application and voter’s statement do not compare as to name, residential address, date of birth, and signature (Sec. 11).

• Requires election officials to compare the name of the bearer written on the absentee ballot application with the voter statement, and if the information does not compare, the ballot shall be a provisional ballot (Sec. 12).

• Requires spoiled ballots to be canceled by a poll by using a stamp marked “CANCELED” on the face of the ballot (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires voters' signatures on absentee ballots to match the signature from their voter registration application unless the application is sent by electronic means.

Highlights:

• Establishes the possession by a person of more than 4 absentee ballots as a rebuttable presumption of intent to defraud (Sec. 1).

• Requires applications for absentee ballots to be signed by the applicant and verified by the county clerk by checking the voter’s name, address, date of birth, and signature from the voter registration application unless it is sent electronically (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the county clerk from providing an absentee ballot to the voter if the signature on the absentee ballot application and voter registration application is not similar (Sec. 3).

• Requires the county clerk to satisfy themself that the applicant for an absentee ballot is a qualified registered elector in which they claim to be a resident (Sec. 4).

• Requires blanks to be provided on the ballot for the voter to provide their name, signature, mailing address, residential voting address, date of birth, and printed name and address of the administrator or designated bearer (Sec. 6).

• Prohibits the county clerk from distributing the following to qualified voters (Sec. 7):

• Unsolicited absentee ballot application to electors; and

• Unsolicited absentee ballots to electors.

• Authorizes the county clerk to provide the following materials (Sec. 7):

• Display a printable or downloadable absentee ballot application form online;

• Post links to the absentee ballot application form on social media; and

• Make paper copies of absentee ballot application forms available for distribution.

• Requires the county clerk to provide the county board of election commissioners with a daily count of absentee applications received, to be reported weekly or upon request of the county board of election commissioners (Sec. 9).

• Prohibits an absentee ballot from being counted if the county board of election commissioners determines that the absentee application and voter’s statement do not compare as to name, residential address, date of birth, and signature (Sec. 11).

• Requires election officials to compare the name of the bearer written on the absentee ballot application with the voter statement, and if the information does not compare, the ballot shall be a provisional ballot (Sec. 12).

• Requires spoiled ballots to be canceled by a poll by using a stamp marked “CANCELED” on the face of the ballot (Sec. 15).

Full Bill Text