Bill
HJR 1018
Constitutional amendment: only U.S. citizens who meet Arkansas' elector qualifications may vote in state/local elections, barring noncitizens from voting.
Status and next steps
- Type: House Joint Resolution proposing a constitutional amendment (amends Ark. Const., Art. 3 §1).
- Introduced: Feb 12, 2025. Passed both legislative chambers (engrossed H3/10/25). Legislative history shows final enrollment and transmittal to the Governor in April 2025.
- Voter submission: The amendment will be submitted to Arkansas electors at the next general election for Representatives and Senators. If a majority of voters approve, the amendment becomes part of the Arkansas Constitution.
- Effective date if adopted by voters: January 1, 2027.
Purpose / intent
- To (1) constitutionally require that only U.S. citizens who meet the State’s elector qualifications may vote in Arkansas elections and (2) bar persons who do not meet those qualifications from voting in any state or local election. The resolution labels the measure “The Citizens Only Voting Amendment.”
Key provisions (what the amendment would change or add)
1. Citizenship requirement: Adds an explicit constitutional clause that "Only a citizen of the United States meeting the qualifications of an elector under this section may vote in an election in this state." It further states a person not meeting those elector qualifications shall not be permitted to vote in any state or local election held in Arkansas.
2. Reaffirms existing elector qualifications: Citizen, Arkansas resident, age 18+, and lawfully registered to vote.
3. Photo identification requirement: Requires voters to present valid photographic identification when voting in person and to enclose a copy of valid photographic identification with an absentee ballot. The General Assembly is directed to define acceptable forms of photo ID.
4. Free state ID: Requires the State to issue photographic identification at no charge to an eligible voter who lacks an acceptable form of photo ID.
5. Provisional ballots and cure: A voter unable to present valid photo ID may cast a provisional ballot; absentee ballots not accompanied by required ID will be treated as provisional. Provisional ballots are counted only if the voter later certifies or cures in the manner provided by law.
6. Implementation and exceptions: The General Assembly shall implement the amendment by statute and may provide exceptions to the photo ID requirements.
Who would be affected
- Noncitizens: Any non-U.S. citizen (including lawful permanent residents, visa-holders, DACA recipients, etc.) would be constitutionally barred from voting in state and local elections in Arkansas. This preempts any local policies allowing noncitizen voting.
- All Arkansas voters: Changes to ID and absentee processes, provisional-ballot rules, and administrative implementation would affect all voters, election officials, and county clerks.
- State government: Will incur administrative duties (issuing free IDs, updating procedures, public education, handling provisional ballot cures) and potential fiscal impacts.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Legal clarity: Codifies citizenship-only voting in the state constitution, reducing ambiguity or local variation on noncitizen voting.
- Administrative costs: Issuing free IDs, modifying absentee procedures, staffing provisional ballot processes, and voter outreach likely carry implementation costs (not specified in the text).
- Access concerns: Photo ID and absentee-ID requirements may raise access issues for voters who lack ID or have difficulty curing provisional ballots; the free ID provision seeks to mitigate this.
- Litigation risk: Any significant changes to voting procedures or access often prompt legal challenges, particularly around equal protection or burdens on voting.
Sponsors
- Primary sponsors include Representatives Ray and Lepak and Senator J. Payton; numerous House and Senate cosponsors (listed in original bill).
Ballot title / popular name
- Ballot title: "Constitution; Oklahoma Pension Reform Act of 2025; ballot title; filing." (This appears to be an administrative/clerical mismatch in the draft; the resolution’s popular name is "The Citizens Only Voting Amendment.")
- Popular name (as provided): "A Constitutional Amendment to be Known as 'The Citizens Only Voting Amendment' and Providing That Only a Citizen of the United States Meeting the Qualifications of an Elector Under the Arkansas Constitution May Vote in an Election in this State."
Note: The engrossed text contains some repeated/formatting artifacts (e.g., duplicated lines regarding ID requirements). Summary reflects the substantive provisions as they appear in the engrossed language.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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