East Arkansas election officials appeal ruling requiring early vote location in West Memphis

Crittenden County election officials on Friday appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court a circuit court order that required staffing an early voting location in West Memphis.

The county Board of Election Commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday to appeal Circuit Court Judge Chris Thyer’s Monday ruling that they should conduct early voting at one of three contested sites in West Memphis. He also asked attorneys on both sides to file an appeal so the high court could offer clarity on early voting statutory construction.

Plaintiffs’ attorney Jennifer Standerfer said Monday her clients were satisfied with at least one early voting location and would not take the case higher, but Republican election commissioners Frank Barton and Anita Bell voted Thursday to appeal Thyer’s order; Democratic member James Pulliaum voted against it. The appeal was filed Friday on behalf of the board by attorney Joe Rogers.

State Sen. Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna, who represents Crittenden County within District 9, was present at Thursday’s meeting and described the commissioners’ intended action as voter suppression.


https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/10/04/east-arkansas-election-officials-appeal-ruling-requiring-early-vote-location-in-west-memphis/