The bill amends existing laws regarding the handling of damaged or defective ballots in Arkansas elections. It allows the State Board of Election Commissioners to create rules for the duplication of such ballots. Specifically, it outlines the process for election officials to create a true duplicate of a damaged ballot in the presence of another election official and designated poll watchers. The original damaged ballot will be marked as "original," while the duplicate will be stamped "duplicate," and both will be labeled with the same unique serial number. The bill also mandates that the duplicated ballots be counted in the same manner as other ballots and that the original damaged ballots be securely stored.

Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for reporting election results. It specifies that, on election night, the county board of election commissioners must declare preliminary and unofficial results, including the number of ballots that need to be duplicated under the amended law. This change aims to enhance transparency and ensure that all ballots, including those that are damaged or defective, are accounted for in the election process.

Statutes affected:
HB 1693: 7-5-615(d), 7-5-615, 7-5-701(a)
Act 458: 7-5-615(d), 7-5-615, 7-5-701(a)