House Democrats Present Pro-Voting Bills; Republicans vote NO

"Voting is critical to the health of our democracy."

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas House Democratic Minority Leader Andrew Collins (D-Little Rock) presented four pro-voting bills in the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committee this evening, as well as a bill to repeal what Collins said was an unconstitutional barrier to grassroots ballot initiatives. Each of the bills was voted down by the Republican-majority committee.

The bills, which were part of House Democrats' Better Arkansas Agenda, proposed online voter registration; no-excuse absentee voting; allowing an extra day to hand-deliver absentee ballots; decriminalizing bringing someone water while they wait in line to vote; and lowering the ballot initiative signature threshold to a majority of electors from 15 counties, as the constitution requires, rather than 50 counties, as a 2023 law imposed.

Defending democracy has been one of House Democrats' policy priorities this session. During the committee hearing Monday evening, Collins made the case for promoting voting, keeping elections fair and secure, and ensuring government is for the people.

"Voting translates popular will into public policy. As more citizens vote, the composition, orientation, and goals of government will more closely match the will of the people. Carrying out the will of the people is the fundamental task of representative democracy," Collins said. "Voting keeps elected officials accountable. And voting makes citizens feel invested in their government, which leads to further engagement and productive citizenship and less alienation and frustration."

Unfortunately, Republicans disagreed. All five bills failed in the committee, where 17 members are Republicans and three are Democrats. Republicans repeatedly shared their discomfort with and skepticism about these bills, despite Collins pointing to improvements in voter turnout, cost savings, election integrity upgrades, and a track record of successful implementation in other states.

"'Government of the people, by the people, and for the people…'," said Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Grant Tennille. "A Republican said that. Odd that members of the Republican Party are working so hard to ensure that Lincoln's vision actually does perish from this Earth. The people of Arkansas deserve better than this."

This was not the only time this session that Democrats made the case for the rights of the people against Republican opposition. Democrats presented bills to allow voter pre-registration, make redistricting nonpartisan, and enshrine a constitutional right to government transparency, all rejected by Republicans. Republicans have also launched a relentless assault on direct democracy to make it more difficult for grassroots groups to get ballot initiatives before the people for a vote.

After the bill presentations, Collins said, "We made a strong case that government shouldn't put up roadblocks for lawful voters to exercise their fundamental right to vote. The people of Arkansas deserve a government that empowers them, not the other way around. We'll keep defending democracy and the people of Arkansas."