Election Security

“I’m proud of the election integrity legislation I authored as your Senator. As Secretary of State, I will work to implement any election laws passed by the Legislature or any executive orders put forth by Governor Sanders or President Trump. Voters can trust that I will do all I can to ensure Arkansas continues to be the most secure place to vote in the country.” – Kim Hammer

As State Senator, Kim led the efforts to make Arkansas’ elections the most secure in the nation. This legislation not only helped stop election fraud, but it also made it nearly impossible for out-of-state liberal billionaires to bankroll campaigns that would change our State Constitution.

Before Kim’s election integrity bills, leftist interests could come into Arkansas, place a Constitutional amendment on our ballot, and then fund a deceitful campaign to push it across the finish line. These groups tried to use this loophole to advance policies like expanding abortions, legalizing recreational marijuana, abolishing educational choice, and imposing anti-competition mandates on our businesses.

This is not acceptable in Arkansas. Kim put a stop to that.

Kim believes Arkansans should have the right to place issues on the ballot — but changing our Constitution should not be easy, or be able to be bought by big-money woke special interests. Kim is holding those bad actors accountable.

Now, Kim is under attack from groups that want to return to the days of weak election safeguards and outside influence. These people want to force their agendas on Arkansans.

Kim Hammer is standing strong against them and protecting the integrity of our elections and citizen-led processes.

Below are several of the key pieces of legislation sponsored by Senator Kim Hammer that strengthened election security and protected Arkansas’ Constitutional amendment process:

ACT 218 – INTRODUCES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR CANVASSERS

Requires petition canvassers to inform potential signers that petition fraud is a criminal offense before they sign, either verbally or through a written notice. The law also establishes penalties for canvassers who fail to provide this disclosure.

ACT 240 – REQUIRES CANVASSERS TO VERIFY THE IDENTITY OF POTENTIAL PETITIONERS THROUGH PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BEFORE OBTAINING THEIR SIGNATURES

Requires canvassers to verify a petition signer’s identity using a photo ID before collecting a signature. Submitting signatures without following this requirement constitutes a false statement.

ACT 241- INTRODUCES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR CANVASSERS

Requires canvassers to file an affidavit with the Secretary of State confirming they followed laws regarding canvassing, fraud, and perjury. Signatures collected without this affidavit will not be counted.

ACT 273 – INTRODUCES A NEW PROVISION THAT DISQUALIFIES SIGNATURES COLLECTED BY CANVASSERS IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THEY HAVE VIOLATED LAWS RELATED TO CANVASSING, PERJURY, FORGERY, OR FRAUDULENT PRACTICES DURING THE CURRENT ELECTION CYCLE

Disqualifies signatures collected by canvassers who violate laws related to canvassing, fraud, forgery, or perjury during the election cycle.

ACT 274 – MANDATES THAT INDIVIDUALS SIGNING SUCH PETITIONS MUST READ THE BALLOT TITLE IN THE PRESENCE OF A CANVASSER OR HAVE IT READ ALOUD TO THEM

Requires petition signers to read the ballot title, or have it read to them, in the presence of a canvasser. Canvassers who knowingly ignore this rule face misdemeanor charges.

ACT 154 – REQUIRES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REVIEW BALLOT TITLES FOR CONFLICTS WITH THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND FEDERAL STATUTES

Requires the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or federal law and reject misleading petitions. It also prevents sponsors from submitting multiple conflicting petitions on the same issue.

ACT 973 – UPDATED HOW ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE RETURNED AND PROCESSED IN ARKANSAS

Moves the in-person absentee ballot return deadline to the Friday before Election Day, giving county clerks more time to verify ballots and prepare accurate results.

ACT 974 – ESTABLISHED A FORMAL LEGISLATIVE REVIEW PROCESS FOR ELECTION-RELATED ISSUES THROUGH THE ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL’S JOINT PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE

Creates a legislative review process allowing lawmakers to study election procedures, investigate concerns, and recommend improvements to election security and transparency.

ACT 350 – ESTABLISHED STATEWIDE PROCEDURES FOR COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS THAT CHOOSE TO USE HAND-MARKED PAPER BALLOTS IN ELECTIONS

The law requires counties that opt for paper ballots to cover the associated costs and ensures that ballots remain compatible with electronic tabulation machines approved by the Secretary of State. It also requires ballots to be scanned and tabulated electronically before any manual hand count, enabling faster preliminary results while still allowing verification through hand counting. The act also includes security requirements for ballot handling and mandates that preliminary election results be reported within 24 hours of polls closing.

ACT 728- CREATED A 100-FOOT SECURITY BUFFER ZONE AROUND POLLING PLACE ENTRANCES IN ARKANSAS TO HELP MAINTAIN ORDER AND PROTECT VOTERS AS THEY CAST THEIR BALLOTS

The law prohibits individuals from remaining near polling place entrances unless they are there to vote or perform official duties, helping prevent electioneering, harassment, or voter intimidation and ensuring a secure voting environment.