SB452 Summary

• Transfers responsibility for ward apportionment from city councils to county boards of election commissioners for all Arkansas cities that elect council members by wards.

• Requires cities to submit resolutions requesting ward redistricting to county election boards, including current ward maps, election dates, and lists of applicable county boards.

• Mandates county boards of election commissioners to ensure wards have substantially equal population, accept city recommendations, use most recent federal census data, and notify cities 30 days before filing periods begin.

• Establishes procedures for multi-county cities where multiple election boards must meet and determine new wards by majority vote, with the city mayor casting a deciding vote in case of ties.

• Applies to cities of all classes, cities under city administrator form of government, and cities selecting members by designated districts, with an effective date of January 1, 2022.