HB1422
To Create The Only Citizens Vote Act; To Amend The Law Concerning The Driver's Licenses And Identification Cards Of Certain Noncitizens; And To Amend Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51, Section 13.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, titled the "Only Citizens Vote Act," proposes modifications to Arkansas driver's licenses and identification cards. It aims to differentiate licenses and IDs issued to non-citizens by having them expire according to the holder's lawful status and display a "Limited Term" designation. Additionally, these non-citizen licenses and IDs would be explicitly marked as "Not valid for federal identification purposes or voter identification purposes." The bill also mandates a monthly report from the Department of Finance and Administration to the Secretary of State, listing individuals holding these non-citizen licenses or IDs. The Secretary of State would then verify if any individuals on this list are registered to vote. If a discrepancy is found, the voter registration would be canceled, and the individual could be referred for prosecution. The legislation also introduces training requirements for election officials regarding the identification of these specific non-citizen documents. Finally, it amends existing state laws and potentially the Arkansas Constitution concerning voter verification documents.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
["The primary beneficiaries of this bill are likely to be government election officials and agencies in Arkansas, who would receive new tools and procedures to potentially enhance the verification of voter eligibility. Citizens concerned with election integrity and the prevention of non-citizen voting may also see this as a beneficial measure. Additionally, the Department of Finance and Administration and the Secretary of State's office would be involved in the reporting and verification processes, which could be seen as strengthening their roles in election security. The general public, in theory, could benefit from increased confidence in the electoral system if the bill successfully prevents non-citizens from voting.", "The primary beneficiaries of this bill are likely to be government election officials and agencies in Arkansas, who would receive new tools and procedures to potentially enhance the verification of voter eligibility. Citizens concerned with election integrity and the prevention of non-citizen voting may also see this as a beneficial measure. Additionally, the Department of Finance and Administration and the Secretary of State's office would be involved in the reporting and verification processes, which could be seen as strengthening their roles in election security. The general public, in theory, could benefit from increased confidence in the electoral system if the bill successfully prevents non-citizens from voting."]
Who Might Suffer?
["Individuals who are not citizens of the United States but hold a valid driver's license or identification card in Arkansas could be directly and negatively impacted. These individuals might face confusion or challenges in using their existing identification for purposes beyond federal and voter identification, and their licenses or IDs may have a shorter duration based on their immigration status. Furthermore, non-citizens who are legally registered to vote or who may have been inadvertently registered due to an administrative error could face the cancellation of their voter registration and potential referral for prosecution. Election officials who must implement the new training and identification verification procedures may also experience an increased workload and potential for error.", "Individuals who are not citizens of the United States but hold a valid driver's license or identification card in Arkansas could be directly and negatively impacted. These individuals might face confusion or challenges in using their existing identification for purposes beyond federal and voter identification, and their licenses or IDs may have a shorter duration based on their immigration status. Furthermore, non-citizens who are legally registered to vote or who may have been inadvertently registered due to an administrative error could face the cancellation of their voter registration and potential referral for prosecution. Election officials who must implement the new training and identification verification procedures may also experience an increased workload and potential for error."]