Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 353 of the Regular Session
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/9/23
2 94th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2023 SENATE BILL 258
4
5 By: Senators Dees, K. Hammer, M. McKee, J. Petty, Stone
6 By: Representatives Burkes, Wing, Achor, Andrews, Barker, Beaty Jr., Beck, Bentley, M. Berry, Breaux,
7 Brooks, K. Brown, M. Brown, Joey Carr, C. Cooper, Cozart, Evans, C. Fite, L. Fite, Fortner, Furman,
8 Gazaway, Gonzales, Gramlich, Haak, Hawk, Hollowell, Jean, Ladyman, Long, Lundstrum, Lynch,
9 McAlindon, McClure, McCollum, M. McElroy, McGrew, B. McKenzie, McNair, S. Meeks, Miller,
10 Milligan, K. Moore, Painter, Pearce, Pilkington, Puryear, R. Scott Richardson, Richmond, Rose, Rye,
11 Schulz, Steimel, Tosh, Underwood, Vaught, Womack, Wooldridge, Wooten
12
13 For An Act To Be Entitled
14 AN ACT TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VOTING ABSENTEE; TO
15 PROHIBIT THE USE OF ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES; AND
16 FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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19 Subtitle
20 TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VOTING ABSENTEE;
21 AND TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF ABSENTEE
22 BALLOT DROP BOXES.
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25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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27 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 7-1-101, concerning definitions under
28 election law, is amended to add an additional subdivision to read as follows:
29 (44)(A) "Drop box" means:
30 (i) A receptacle, box, or other physical structure
31 used to receive absentee ballots; and
32 (ii) That is available for public use.
33 (B) "Drop box" does not include a receptacle, box, or
34 other physical structure that is provided by or used by a mail carrier
35 authorized to receive or deliver absentee ballots under law.
36
*MLD015* 03-09-2023 09:28:51 MLD015
 As Engrossed: H3/9/23 SB258
1 Section 2. Arkansas Code § 7-5-411(a), concerning the methods of
2 voting absentee, is amended to add an additional subdivision to read as
3 follows:
4 (5)(A) A county clerk, public employee, or election official
5 shall not establish or use a drop box for the purpose of collecting absentee
6 ballots.
7 (B) No person shall deliver an absentee ballot through a
8 drop box.
9 (6) All absentee ballots not delivered by mail shall be hand-
10 delivered inside the physical office of the county clerk under the
11 requirements of this section and chapter.
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13 /s/Dees
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16 APPROVED: 3/21/23
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2 03-09-2023 09:28:51 MLD015


Statutes affected:
Old version SB258 Original - 2-13-2023 02:19 PM: 7-5-411(a)
Old version SB258 V2 - 3-9-2023 09:30 AM: 7-1-101, 7-5-411(a)
SB 258: 7-5-411(a)
Act 353: 7-1-101, 7-5-411(a)