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Committee deadlocks on removing Monday early voting; supporters cite administrative buffer, opponents cite voter access
Summary
Senate Bill 485, which would remove the Monday-before-election early-voting day, drew opposing testimony: election officials and poll workers said Monday voting eases Election Day congestion and aids voters with mobility issues, while bill proponents argued the change would allow administrative checks and machine maintenance.
Senate Bill 485 drew partisan and practical debate over whether to remove the long-standing practice of in-person early voting on the Monday before election day.
Senator Thomas Hammer, advocating for the bill, said the Monday buffer gives election administrators time to perform checklist procedures, move replacement voting machines and correct last-minute problems: "This builds in an extra protection to assure that there's adequate time to perform checklists of procedures, materials and machines," he told the committee.
Opponents included Sharmell Roussel of Conway, who said more than 51,000 Arkansans voted on the Monday before election day in the most recent November and that the day provides accessibility for older and infirm voters. "It's a process that works," Roussel said, urging members to keep the existing practice.
Christy Starr, chairwoman of the Pulaski County Election Commission, testified the extra buffer would relieve poll-worker fatigue and reduce mistakes, citing recurring requests from election staff for administrative relief. Poll workers and trainers also warned that removing a familiar voting day would confuse voters and demoralize staff.
After closing remarks from proponents and opponents, the committee held a voice vote on a motion to pass SB485; the motion failed. Committee members then voted to expunge the record of the failed vote.
Next steps: The committee did not report SB485 favorably in this session; recordkeeping actions (expungement) followed the failed passage motion.
