Senate committee advances bill limiting early-voting closures to state holidays

House Bill 1198 was presented to the Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs committee and passed by voice vote after brief discussion.

Lindsay French of the Association of Arkansas Counties told the committee the bill's effect is small but practical: "This is an elections bill that doesn't do much, and I know that sounds funny, but it's the truth." She said the measure would eliminate county holidays from the days that polls are closed so that "polls shall only be closed on state holidays," removing a situation where voters in different counties within the same senate district could have different early-voting calendars.

Senator Flowers asked whether the change would affect county employee pay when employees worked on what had been a county holiday. French replied that county personnel policies typically address those situations: "They would get paid for that day. They would get their holiday to take another day that they chose or were designated." No other fiscal impacts were offered during the committee's discussion.

Senator Kroll moved to pass the bill; Senator Payton seconded. The committee approved HB 1198 by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the action was taken by voice vote and the committee chair announced the motion carried.