Bill > HB1070

This bill, known as the Ballot Draw Standardization Act of 2025, modifies the existing Arkansas law regarding how the order of candidate names is determined on election ballots. The bill introduces a more structured process for drawing lots to establish ballot position at a public meeting of county election commissioners, which must occur at least 72 days before the general election. Candidates or their designated representatives will now draw lots to determine their ballot placement, with a specific hierarchical order: first, candidates who appear in person draw lots based on their original filing date and time; second, candidates' designated representatives draw lots following the same filing date priority; and third, if a candidate is not present and has not designated a representative, a county election commissioner or their designee will draw the lot. The bill ensures that candidates who filed first or earliest on the same day will draw first. Additionally, the bill maintains the requirement for public notice of the drawing and specifies that runoff election ballot order will remain the same as the previous election. These changes aim to create a more transparent and standardized process for ballot order determination.

Government Affairs

https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1070&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R