Bill > HB1038

This bill is designed to modify Arkansas' absentee voting laws by eliminating existing restrictions on who can vote by absentee ballot. Specifically, the bill removes the previous qualifying conditions for absentee voting, which previously required voters to be unavoidably absent from their polling place, experiencing illness or physical disability, or unable to vote due to religious observances. Under the new law, any registered voter can request an absentee ballot without needing to provide a specific reason. The bill, known as "The No-Excuse Absentee Voting Act of 2025", also updates the absentee ballot application process, maintaining requirements for voter identification and citizenship while streamlining the application procedure. Key changes include allowing applications to remain valid for one calendar year, simplifying the application form by removing the need to explain why a voter wants an absentee ballot, and ensuring that county clerks will mail absentee ballots to qualified voters no later than 25 days before an election. The bill aims to make voting more accessible by removing barriers to obtaining and casting absentee ballots.

Government Affairs

https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1038&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R