Natural State News

Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently signed a bill that requires Arkansas voters to present a photo ID for provisional ballots to be counted while eliminating signature verification requirements for provisional ballots.

House Bill 1112 passed through the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee by 25-9, one more vote than necessary to alter a constitutional amendment, according to Arkansas Times.

The bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. Mark Lowery (R-Maumelle), introduced the bill to remove a loophole in current law that allows an absentee voter to sign a ballot without identity verification, which he claims undermines the integrity of the Arkansas election process. 

"I have consistently supported a voter identification requirement as long as there is state assistance for anyone who does not have personal identification," Hutchinson said, as reported by KATV.

Hutchinson added that it is important for individuals to obtain an ID, which are available free of charge from the state.

Opponents of the bill argue that no credible evidence of voter fraud exists and that the bill will only make it more difficult for some Arkansans to vote.

“When they say it isn’t about voter suppression, it’s about voter suppression,” Sen. Keith Ingram (D-West Memphis) said, as reported by the Arkansas Times. “It’s a problem for a solution that doesn’t exist. Nothing is ever brought before us that is valid. It is always hearsay.”

Sen. Mark Johnson (R - Little Rock), the bill’s lead sponsor in the Senate, cites an incident where approximately 300 provisional ballots that had been disqualified in Pulaski County were erroneously counted.

Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D- Little Rock) countered that none of the disqualified votes had anything to do with voter ID and were disqualified for reasons including mismatched signatures and incomplete addresses, Arkansas Times reported.

In 2020, approximately 2,700 provisional ballots with sworn signatures were tabulated.