Voting Rights Advocates Sue Over Arkansas Laws

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The League of Women Voters of Arkansas and Arkansas United filed a lawsuit on Wednesday challenging multiple new laws passed by the Republican Legislature that limit access to the ballot box. The four laws, the suit alleges, pose an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote and disproportionately harm Black voters, contributing to the state’s exceptionally low voter turnout rates. 

The four bills each address a different part of the voting process. House Bill 1715 establishes a new absentee application signature match; Senate Bill 643 limits the absentee return period; House Bill 1112 requires voters who lack ID when casting their ballots to bring a form of identification to the county clerk’s office within six days and Senate Bill 486 bans anyone except voters from coming within 100 feet of a polling place, including volunteers who are distributing food and water to voters in long lines. 

Read the complaint here.