Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2023 SENATE BILL 230
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5 By: Senator B. King
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7 For An Act To Be Entitled
8 AN ACT TO EXPAND THE TIME FOR EARLY VOTING; TO
9 REQUIRE THAT EMPLOYERS PROVIDE PAID TIME OFF TO VOTE;
10 TO AMEND ELECTION LAWS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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13 Subtitle
14 TO EXPAND THE TIME FOR EARLY VOTING; TO
15 REQUIRE THAT EMPLOYERS PROVIDE PAID TIME
16 OFF TO VOTE; AND TO AMEND ELECTION LAWS.
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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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21 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 7-1-102 is amended to read as follows:
22 7-1-102. Work time to be scheduled for voting — Penalty.
23 (a) Each employer in the state shall schedule the work hours of
24 employees on election days so that each employee will have an opportunity to
25 exercise the right of franchise on election day or during early voting for
26 all elections.
27 (b) Each employer shall provide eight (8) hours of paid leave to each
28 employee who is a registered voter to exercise the right of franchise during
29 early voting prior to each of the following, a:
30 (1) Primary election;
31 (2) Primary runoff election; and
32 (3) General election.
33 (c) No employer shall subject an employee to discharge, loss of sick
34 leave, loss of vacation time, or any other form of penalty on account of his
35 or her absence from employment by reason of exercising the right of
36 franchise.
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 SB230
1 (d) Any employer who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of
2 this section shall upon conviction be subject to a fine of not less than
3 twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
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5 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 7-5-418(a)(1), concerning early voting, is
6 amended to read as follows:
7 (a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this section,
8 early voting shall be available to any qualified elector who applies to the
9 county clerk's designated early voting location, beginning fifteen (15)
10 thirty (30) days, excluding Sundays, before a preferential primary or general
11 election between the hours of:
12 (i) 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
13 for the first fifteen (15) days of early voting;
14 (ii) 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
15 for the remaining weekdays of early voting;
16 (iii) and 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday
17 Saturdays; and ending at 5:00 p.m.
18 (iv) 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the Monday before
19 the election.
20 (B) Early voting shall not be available on state or county
21 holidays.
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Statutes affected:
SB 230: 7-1-102, 7-5-418(a)