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HB 1693

expanding the number of Grafton county commissioners.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Calvin Beaulier and 2 co-sponsors

Arkansas HB 1693 requires true duplicates for damaged ballots, notes who duplicate counts, and mandates rules and reporting on duplicated ballots and election-night results.

Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 18
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1693

Summary — HB 1693

Note: The document provided appears to combine text from multiple different bills (Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana) that share the bill number “HB 1693.” This summary focuses on the principal, substantive text included in the file — an Arkansas bill amending state election code concerning damaged or defective ballots. At the end I note the conflicting material and recommended next steps.

Main purpose

To amend Arkansas law governing the handling, duplication, and counting of damaged or defective ballots and to authorize the State Board of Election Commissioners to promulgate rules implementing the duplication procedures. It also amends certification/reporting requirements on election night to require county boards to report the number of ballots that must be duplicated.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Arkansas Code § 7-5-615(d) (tabulation of votes; damaged/defective ballots):

    • Requires a true duplicate copy be made when a ballot is damaged or defective so the electronic tabulating device cannot count it.
    • Specifies duplication procedure to be performed by an election official in the presence of another election official and any designated poll watchers:
    • Reproduce voter selections on a second ballot of the same style.
    • Stamp or write “duplicate” on the duplicated ballot.
    • Stamp or write “original” on the original damaged/defective ballot.
    • Label both the original and the duplicate with the same unique serial number.
    • Substitute the duplicate for the original in the tally; count duplicated ballots the same as other ballots.
    • Securely store the original damaged/defective ballots.
    • Duplication for ballots counted at central counting facilities must occur at the same time and location ballots with no defects are counted.
    • Ballots damaged at polling sites must be securely delivered to the county board to be duplicated by election officials or added manually to the precinct count on election night.
    • Election officials must maintain and provide a recorded count of damaged ballots duplicated, in the presence of authorized poll watchers when present.

  • Adds Arkansas Code § 7-5-615(g):

    • Directs the State Board of Election Commissioners to promulgate necessary rules governing the duplication process.

  • Amends Arkansas Code § 7-5-701(a)(3)(C) (certification, delivery, custody of returns):

    • Requires county boards to declare preliminary/unofficial results on election night (immediately after counting is complete but no later than 24 hours after polls close) and to include statements of outstanding:
    • UOCAVA ballots (uniformed and overseas voters),
    • Provisional ballots,
    • Number of ballots required to be duplicated under § 7-5-615.
    • Requires immediate transmission of results by precinct to the Secretary of State through the election night reporting interface.

Who is affected

  • County boards of election commissioners, election officials, and poll watchers (procedures and reporting duties).
  • State Board of Election Commissioners (rulemaking authority).
  • Voters whose ballots are damaged or defective (affects how their votes are duplicated and counted).
  • Secretary of State (receives precinct-level, election-night reports).

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Duplication actions for central-count ballots occur concurrently with normal counting operations; polling-site damaged ballots must be delivered for duplication or manual entry on election night.
  • County boards must publish preliminary/unofficial election-night results no later than 24 hours after polls close and transmit precinct results immediately to the Secretary of State.
  • The bill text directs the State Board to adopt implementing rules (no deadline specified).

Status and conflicts in the provided document

  • The bill header lists status “Died In Committee” and an initial introduction date of December 20, 2024.
  • The file also contains unrelated content: an Illinois appropriation bill (a $2 FY26 appropriation to a state economic development authority) and editorial/formatting fragments from an Indiana bill, plus mixed legislative action dates from multiple jurisdictions.
  • Sponsors listed (Hawk, K. Hammer, Jay Hoffman) appear to be from different states.

Recommendation: Confirm the jurisdiction (state) and the correct, final text of HB 1693 you want summarized. If you want the Illinois or Indiana material summarized instead (or if the Arkansas bill advanced/changed), provide the specific version or indicate which state's HB 1693 to use.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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