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Arkansas committee rejects bid to remove Monday from early voting after witnesses warn of turnout loss
Summary
Senate committee considered SB485 to eliminate Monday early voting; county election officials and voting-rights groups testified that Monday was a high‑turnout day and removing it would reduce access for rural and language‑minority voters. The measure lacked sufficient votes in committee and did not advance.
A Senate committee voted against advancing a measure that would remove Monday from early voting in Arkansas, following a string of public comments warning the change would reduce turnout and disproportionately affect rural and minority voters.
Senator Kim Hammer presented Senate Bill 485, saying the bill would limit early voting to Saturday (and remove the Monday voting day) to give election officials more time for ballot accounting and machine logistics. He told the committee the change had bipartisan history and argued the gap would help ensure processes and absentee…
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