Arkansas closer to adopting voter ID law

LITTLE ROCK—Arkansas legislators have approved rules necessary to implement a new voter-identification law that could go into effect as early as September.

The state Board of Election Commissioners approved the rules Wednesday for a new law that says voters should show photo identification before casting ballots, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Those without photo identification can sign a sworn statement saying they're registered voters in the state.

"We've had some complaints on that over the past year," said Keith Rutledge, director of the Board of Election Commissioners. "This pretty much will clear that up. You either show me your ID or you sign this affidavit—basically."

The rules create a new sort of provisional ballot that's automatically counted unless there's a red flag, said Daniel Shults, legal counsel for the board.

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2017/jun/23/arkansas-closer-adopting-voter-id-law/679159/