Arkansas Ranks First in Election Integrity: A Double-Edged Sword
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Arkansas Republicans celebrated a recent report from the Heritage Foundation declaring the state as the top leader in election integrity nationwide, moving up from eighth place. Secretary of State Cole Jester hailed the ranking at a press conference, stating, "we are proud to have the most secure elections in the country." The Heritage Foundation’s scorecard evaluates election laws impacting security and integrity, with Arkansas earning a score of 91 out of 100 based on 14 categories, including voter ID laws and absentee ballot management.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders highlighted the ongoing efforts to create a secure voting environment, emphasizing her collaboration with Jester to enhance ballot box security and prevent petition fraud. "My goal this session was simple: make it easy to vote and hard to cheat," she stated.
However, while celebrating this benchmark, concerns linger over broader voter participation in the state. Arkansas has a low voter registration rate of 62.2%, placing it near the bottom nationally. The League of Women Voters of Arkansas criticized the Heritage Foundation’s scorecard for presenting a narrow view of election integrity. Executive Director Kristin Foster remarked, "True election integrity means ensuring every eligible voter can cast a ballot freely and fairly."
Complicating matters, the League has filed a federal lawsuit against Arkansas, accusing recent legislative measures of imposing severe burdens on the petition process. Jester confirmed that these laws were not factored into the Heritage Foundation’s evaluation, attributing the state’s success to bipartisan legislative support for laws like Act 840.
As Arkansas stands at the forefront of election integrity, the challenge remains balancing security with access to the ballot for all eligible voters.
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