The bill amends existing laws regarding the handling of damaged or defective ballots during elections in Arkansas. 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, ensuring that the voter's selections are accurately reproduced and that both the original and duplicate ballots are properly labeled and stored. The bill also removes previous requirements that the duplication process occur at the same time and location as the counting of non-defective ballots, and it clarifies that the duplicated ballots will be counted in the same manner as other ballots.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the county board of election commissioners declare preliminary and unofficial election results within 24 hours after polls close, including a count of ballots that need to be duplicated. This change aims to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the election process by ensuring that all ballots, including those that are damaged or defective, are accounted for in the election results.

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)