HB1070
To Create The Ballot Draw Standardization Act Of 2025.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, titled the "Ballot Draw Standardization Act of 2025," proposes to amend existing Arkansas law concerning the order of candidate names on ballots. Currently, for school district board elections, the order is determined by the filing date of petitions. The bill seeks to change this to a lottery system for determining ballot order in school district elections. It also revises the procedures and deadlines for certifying candidate lists and conducting ballot draws for various elections, including general, preferential primary, and municipal primary elections. The amendments aim to standardize the process of determining ballot order across different types of elections. Specifically, it mandates that ballot order be determined by lot, with provisions for candidates or their designees to draw the lots. The bill also outlines the order in which lots are drawn: first by candidates appearing in person, then by designees, and finally by election officials if the candidate or their designee is absent. Deadlines for conducting these lottery draws are also adjusted.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be candidates seeking elected office in Arkansas, as the method for determining their position on the ballot would be standardized across various election types. It could also benefit election officials and county clerks by providing clearer procedures and deadlines for ballot preparation. Furthermore, voters might benefit from a perceived fairness in the ballot order process due to the standardized lottery system, as opposed to an order potentially influenced by filing times.
Who Might Suffer?
Entities or individuals who might be negatively impacted include candidates who previously benefited from an early filing advantage, as their position on the ballot would now be subject to chance rather than the timing of their filing. Additionally, the change from filing order to lottery could introduce complexity and require adjustments in campaign strategies for candidates, potentially affecting their perceived fairness or advantage based on filing order. Election officials may face administrative adjustments and potential confusion in implementing the new procedures and deadlines across different election types.