HB1517 would dangerously weaken Arkansas elections by imposing online voter registration.
In case you haven’t noticed, the integrity of our elections is a huge and growing concern for many Americans. The concerns are even higher for jurisdictions with more of their registration and voting systems being online.
HACKERS? The bill says the Arkansas Secretary of State is to make the online system secure, but we already know even the largest technology companies fail in their efforts to keep their records secure.
How many times have you received a notice from a credit card company or online store warning customers of a data breach and the possibility that your personal information may have been compromised. Voter registration includes lots of personal information, and in some instances under the bill could even include your Social Security number.
There is no good reason to risk an online voter registration system when the current system is already easy and more secure. You can even register by mail and the forms are easy to obtain and return. But mail-in registration has security an online system does not have.
FRAUD? The proposed online registration system strips away a crucial safety measure that is present even in mail-in registration. The bill eliminates the requirement for having the applicant’s SIGNATURE, under penalty of perjury. Having a signature on file for comparison is an important security measure to reduce fraud. The bill removes this protection.
TROJAN HORSE? Does the bill also allow online voting? Confusing language is being added to Arkansas Code § 7-5-201(e)(1)(B). Perhaps the change is a mistake, but some are asking does the new language allow online voting?
The law currently says: “When voting by mail submit with the ballot a copy of …” But under the bill it now would say: “When voting by mail or by electronic voter registration application form, submit with the ballot a copy of ….” The provision is clearly about submitting ballots. Does the change mean voting online is authorized?
STOP THE BILL. HB1517 passed out of committee last week and currently is on the Arkansas House of Representative’s agenda to be considered on Monday (March 1, 2021). The bill is sponsored by Representative Justin Boyd (R-Fort Smith) and Senator Breanne Davis (R- Russellville).
The best thing would be for the sponsors to withdraw the bill and perhaps study the issue further. In the alternative the bill should be beaten by the House of Representatives
Because HB1517 amends the voter registration provisions in the Arkansas Constitution the bill will need a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate to pass.[i] Therefore, how your legislator votes on HB1517 is extremely important. The House floor is the place to stop the bill.
[i] Ark. Const. Amendment 51, §19 and Ark. Const. Art. 5, § 1
