ARKANSAS, USA — On Tuesday, April 23rd the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners met at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. Director Chris Madison proposed a declaratory order that denies E-signatures being allowed in elections.
"As you recall, at the last meeting on April 11, there was a motion made directing staff to prepare an emergency rule related to voter registration. The whole point we're trying to make here is to have applicants in one county treated exactly the same as applicants in another county because we have some counties that are accepting electronic signatures, and we have other counties that are not, we need to do a rule to says," said Madison.
A non-profit organization called "Get Loud Arkansas" (GLA) has successfully used electronic signatures since January.
Executive Director of GLA, Joyce Elliot said this law is a form of voter suppression since not having this type of access can hurt certain demographics in the state.
"They have the power to have done something else to make sure people can access the ballot. This is not what it should look like," Elliot said. "There's no way it can be all about the e-signature if we want to make sure people have a chance to get registered and vote. And so the only thing I can chalk it up to is, you say one thing out on one side of your mouth as if you want everybody to be registered. And then you vote, you suppress their votes in meetings like this."
Madison said requiring physical signatures and registration aligns with the Arkansas constitution.
"Amendment 51 allows computer signatures for certain groups, DMV, state revenue offices, public assistance agencies, disability agencies, because they have an interaction with the person right there. You're there when you're doing the thing. The law does not permit computer processes, or electronic signatures outside of those areas," said Madison.
The board adopted the order on Tuesday, April 23. Board approval will now be pushed out to county clerks around the state. Permanent change will have to be approved by lawmakers at a later date.
If you want or need to register for the November election the deadline to apply is Oct. 6.
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