HB1037
An Act To Create The Preregistration To Vote Act; And To Amend Provisions Of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51, Under The Authority Granted By Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51, § 19.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, titled the "Preregistration to Vote Act," proposes to amend Arkansas law concerning voter registration. The stated intent is to increase voter turnout, as Arkansas currently ranks low in both registration and turnout. The bill specifically aims to allow individuals who are seventeen years old to preregister to vote, provided they will turn eighteen on or before election day. This preregistration would enable them to be added to the voter registration list with a designation that they are ineligible to vote until their eighteenth birthday. The system would automatically remove this designation once they reach the age of eighteen. The bill also makes conforming amendments to existing constitutional provisions regarding voter registration forms and lists. It aims to align Arkansas with the practice of twenty-eight other states that allow preregistration. The legislative findings indicate that preregistration has shown positive effects on voter turnout in other states and is effective for registrants of all political affiliations. This change is authorized under Article 51, Section 19 of the Arkansas Constitution.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be seventeen-year-old citizens of Arkansas who are eligible to register to vote. By allowing them to preregister, they can establish their voter registration ahead of turning eighteen, potentially increasing their likelihood of voting in future elections. This measure is also intended to benefit the state by increasing overall voter turnout, which the bill's findings suggest leads to greater respect for the will of the people, increased governmental legitimacy, and enhanced accountability. Election officials and government bodies tasked with voter outreach and management may also see potential benefits from a larger, more engaged electorate.
Who Might Suffer?
This bill is not designed to negatively impact specific groups or entities. Instead, it aims to expand the ability to preregister for voting, which is intended to be a positive change for eligible citizens and the state's electoral process. Potential administrative changes for election officials to implement the preregistration system and manage the designation for seventeen-year-old registrants are implied, but these are operational adjustments rather than direct negative impacts. The bill's findings specifically state that preregistration is equally effective for Republican and Democratic registrants, suggesting no partisan disadvantage.