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HB 1925

Suffrage; restore to Dustin Darell Mills of Rankin County.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Zakiya Summers

Arkansas HB 1925 requires a witnessed, sworn absentee ballot statement with bold perjury language and penalties up to $10,000 or 10 years, impacting voters and election officials.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1925

Summary — HB 1925

Overview / Purpose

HB 1925 (as provided) is principally an Arkansas bill that amends state absentee voting law to (1) revise the absentee ballot voter statement to include a bolded, capitalized perjury/penalty declaration and (2) require that the voter's sworn statement on an absentee ballot be witnessed by at least one adult, with specified witness information collected. The stated intent is to strengthen verification of absentee ballots and to impose explicit penalties for false statements.

Note on source material: the provided packet contains materials from more than one bill that share the number “HB 1925” (including an Illinois Education Prioritization Act and a separate “restore suffrage” title). This summary focuses on the Arkansas absentee-ballot provisions contained in the Arkansas engrossed/amendment text attributed to Rep. Beaty Jr. and Sen. Gilmore. There are conflicting procedural entries in the record (see “Procedural history & status” below); consult the official Arkansas legislative site for final disposition.

Key provisions (Arkansas absentee-ballot amendments)

  • Adds explicit, bolded capitalized language to the absentee voter statement asserting:
    • The signer is qualified to vote, has not already voted in the election, the ballot(s) enclosed are the voter's own, and the voter received no improper assistance.
    • The information is true under penalty of perjury.
    • A false statement may result in a fine up to $10,000, imprisonment up to 10 years, or both, under federal or state law.
  • Requires the voter statement to include a sworn-statement portion that the voter may complete affirming registration and identity. The sworn statement:
    • Is executed under penalty of perjury (not required to be notarized).
    • Must be witnessed by at least one individual who is 18 years of age or older, except for specified exemptions.
  • Witnessing exemptions (no witness required if absentee ballot application indicates the voter is):
    1. Unable to attend polls on election day because of illness or physical disability;
    2. A resident of a long-term care or state-licensed residential facility;
    3. Unable to attend due to observance of a religious discipline or holiday; or
    4. In active U.S. armed service (or spouse/dependent) and resides outside the county.
  • Requires blank fields on the voter statement for the witness’s printed name, signature, and mailing address.

Who would be affected

  • Absentee voters in Arkansas (all voters who use absentee ballots would see revised voter statements and most would need a witness).
  • Election administrators (updated ballot/envelope materials and procedures).
  • Potential witnesses (any adult 18+ who signs as witness).
  • Voters who fall into the enumerated exemptions (they would not need a witness).
  • Potentially courts and law enforcement if perjury/penalty provisions are enforced.

Procedural history & status (from provided records)

  • Introduced: January 16, 2025 (Rep. Beaty Jr.; Sen. Gilmore listed).
  • Amendment No. 1 adopted in committee and engrossed (April 3, 2025).
  • Multiple committee reports and readings are listed in March–April 2025.
  • Record includes contradictory entries: some lines indicate the bill passed, was enrolled, transmitted to the governor, and listed as Act 846 (April 14–17, 2025); another line states “Died In Committee” (April 3, 2025). Because the provided file appears to mix records and at least one unrelated HB1925 (Illinois), the final status is unclear in this packet.

Potential impacts & considerations

  • Administrative: Counties and election officials will need to revise absentee ballot materials and train staff about witness collection and handling.
  • Access: Requiring a witness could create barriers for some absentee voters (e.g., socially isolated voters, incarcerated persons, people in remote areas) despite the enumerated exemptions; implementation details will affect practical access.
  • Legal enforcement: The heightened, explicitly stated penalty language may deter fraud but could also raise concerns about intimidation or inadvertent errors being prosecuted; clarity on enforcement standards and guidance for voters/officials will matter.
  • Equity: Monitoring would be needed to ensure the witness requirement does not disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

Recommendation

Because the provided documents appear to conflate multiple bills and show conflicting procedural outcomes, verify the final text and status on the official Arkansas General Assembly website (or the Secretary of State’s election law pages) before relying on the bill’s enactment or operational requirements.

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

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