The Arkansas Absentee Voter Integrity Act of 2025 seeks to strengthen the integrity of absentee voting by amending existing laws regarding the counting of absentee ballots and the responsibilities of election officials. Key provisions include stipulations that absentee ballots must be tabulated no earlier than 8:30 a.m. on election day, and that the county board of election commissioners must begin counting absentee and early votes before the polls close. The act also mandates public access to the absentee canvassing process and requires the county clerk to provide detailed reports on absentee ballot applications and ballots received.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new procedures for verifying absentee ballot materials, including the comparison of voter identification and signatures. It establishes criteria for designating absentee ballots as provisional in cases of discrepancies, allowing voters to "cure" these ballots by providing necessary information by a specified deadline. Election officials are required to notify voters of the status of their absentee ballots within 48 hours of designation as provisional. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the State Board of Election Commissioners in creating rules for the maintenance and handling of absentee ballot materials, ensuring compliance with the Freedom of Information Act to protect voter privacy, with a timeline for these rules to be filed by January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB 247: 7-5-416, 7-5-202, 7-5-701, 7-5-701(a)