AR SB435

Amends Arkansas Code § 7-1-113 to require that at least one vote center in each county provide hand-marked paper ballots to any voter who requests them.

Designates the vote center closest to the county courthouse as the location required to provide hand-marked paper ballots to requesting voters.

Adds new Arkansas Code § 7-5-617 establishing that voters at required vote centers have the right to cast ballots on hand-marked paper ballots that shall be handled and counted according to existing procedures.

Makes it a Class C misdemeanor for county clerks, election officials, or poll workers to knowingly or purposely refuse to provide hand-marked paper ballots to requesting voters at vote centers required to offer them.

Provides a defense to prosecution for poll workers if the county board of election commissioners or county clerk failed to provide sufficient paper ballots for distribution.