LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Nowadays, it's not uncommon to use e-signature for pretty much everything in our daily lives, but it may no longer be an option for voter registration and ballot petition signing.
On Tuesday, the State Board of Election Commissioners met at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation where Director Chris Madison proposed a declaratory order denying the use of e-signatures in elections.
"The whole point we're trying to do here is have applicants in one county treated exactly the same as applicants in another county," Madison said. " We have some counties that are accepting electronic signatures, and we have other counties that are not; we need to make a rule."
Madison said requiring physical signatures and registration aligns with the Arkansas Constitution.
"Amendment 51 allows computer signatures for certain groups, DMV, state revenue offices, public assistance agencies, disability agencies... they have an interaction with the person [because] they're there," Madison said. "When you're doing the thing, the law does not permit computer processes, electronic signature outside of those areas."
However, Get Loud Arkansas Executive Director Joyce Elliott said the board's vote is a form of voter suppression.
"They have the power to have done something else to make sure people can access the ballot this is not what it should look like," Elliott said.
Elliott said their organization has successfully used e-signatures since January. Not having this type of access can hurt certain demographics in Arkansas that don't have access to a county clerk or other resources.
"There's no way it can be all about the e-signature if we want to make sure people have a chance to get registered and vote," Elliott said. "The only thing I can chalk it up to is, you say one thing out on one side of your mouth as if you want everybody to be registered and then you vote and suppress their votes in meetings like this, these are the people who are supposed to be making sure they work for the people."