State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs-Senate

Section and it just kind of set of different criteria. Curless I'm not sure did it would you please state your name for sure Jeff wouldn't Arkansas National Guard thank you Sir members any questions on this bill senator garner would. Seeing none. The jury thing further senator garner no Sir on closed right anyone like to speak for against the bill. Seen and I have a motion. What do pass I have a motion what about a second. I have a motion for senator garner second for Senator Davis all those in favor say aye. Lows NO. Regulations on Levin twenty two were eleven twenty three. You're recognized Sir yes Sir I know whenever you see my name with four thousand less yes some people might get a little nervous but this has nothing to do with any kind of formation of a militia this is kind of the. Term used for Arkansas National Guard incurred with explain exactly what that means what we're cleaning this language yeah Jeff would Arkansas National Guard Mr chairman this is one of those you know clean up bills you think it's no trouble you file it and then people start ask a lot of questions so we we amended it does the code currently just as Malaysia so we had an event amendment to stay organized militia which is defined in the code and the Arkansas National Guard and the Arkansas Air National Guard so the reason for this bill is the current language a little antiquated it just says peace officer and it gives our soldiers the powers of peace officer well that term is defined thirty seven different places in the code so it's overly broad it currently already includes law enforcement officer so what we're doing is narrowing the powers or soldiers have we come out of state active duty to just law enforcement which is the role that they'll need to to serve and if they are called out for either you know whether responsible disturbance whatever is happy to answer any questions. Members any question on that. At a date to do things I did want to ask just in general is this is this something that we just have not done here in Arkansas as this done is this been done in other states where they invoke the law enforcement there they're looking at a section one a. Yes Sir I think I can answer thank you we already do that when they're called out for say active duty military police this is taken thanks to from that peace officer to law enforcement from work to find roles in center we do is we don't we don't service or not like at the main line of defense we supplement either the state police for local law enforcement when even they've you know they get to the point where they can no longer you know staff their mission is to come and help and so we usually just supplement them take it easy you know traffic control type missions or what we can to help to help find support their mission right thank you. Members any further questions on this bill. Anyone like to speak for against the bill. I have a motion motion to pass motion as a senator garner I have a second chance Tucker all those in favor say aye opposed no. Moving on eleven twenty four Sir. Thank you Mr chairman of this has to do with a little more sensitive subject this basically updates the military code for sexual contact and sexual assault be more to find a definition between those two offenses which a Jeff would Arkansas National Guard what this does is currently right now you know we have our own punitive section your conduct military criminal section of the code and currently have an offense called sexual misconduct and we can charge sexual assault underneath the general articles and so what we're doing here is just doing away with sexual misconduct and and substitute that for sexual assault is a the lady if the offense that way soldiers can see the elements I know what it is it is just a lot easier to approval we have courts martial for the few states is actually done I think nine court martial last couple years no holding a offenders responsible for their conduct when it comes to sexual assault and now is just kind of create a better process for the soldiers you know both prosecuting and defending to have the elements have the definitions in Kano what's the what's expected to. Right. Members any questions on this bill. Saying no questions you have anything further close as chairman anyone like to speak for against the bill. Seeing none I have a motion or do pass motion do pass for senator garner second from Senator English all those favor say aye All opposed bill passes thank you Mr Kerr would just wanna say thank you for all that you do in we appreciate the service National Guard being called out on many things in the last few months and not the least of which was a storm last week so we appreciate what you do thank you for being here Sir thank. All right members. That's going to pull us back up I do want it since we're down there at the end of that deal and there's one little bill Senator Irvin talk with me about just up on the floor will go if you remember represented rock came in and added some names to the list of musicians including the Arkansas music appreciation day Senator Davis would you mind to run this bill for Senator Irvin. Because they should be without any contention whatsoever and she said if we'd run it for that be good so you're recognized. Thank you and this bill just adds James C. Morris I am also known as Jimmy drift drift wood to that music appreciation day. Right. Members any questions on the bill. The Senate. How did you come up the name Jimmy Jr. I don't know okay the question. No no the battle of New Orleans is after absolutely and historic show members saying no questions you allow anyone like to pose or speak on this bill sing nine I have a motion to pass from Senator Davis second from Senator English all those in favor say aye All opposed no. Bill passes all right thank members thank you for that and that is going to pull us back up I believe to House bill eleven twelve and I think that we do have center represented Lowery I had one person ask if they could go and the right after you would you allow represented Dotson run is bill really quick and because I know there's several the people here signed up to speak I appreciate that accommodation for that Okay represented Dotson if you state your name for the record Sir you're recognized thank you Mister chair state Representative Jim Dotson. bring before house bill thirteen fifty six and if you'll recall the last state agencies meeting you adopted an amendment on here adding Senator Ballenger to the so this is a. This is Laurie has an adopted amendments on it it does not believe that they even have the amendment in there and so when we go on it it'll be as amended as amended okay so what this bill does as amended it. on those. Eighteen months or so ago I found out by a constituent contacting me that Boards and commissions are supposed to give a report to the J. P. R. every. August of even numbered years of any times that they're not consecutively meeting and so the the what this is is to try to give a an evaluation update to see whether or not boards and commissions are actually doing their job or not doing their job or whether we need to get rid of them in for a joint performance review to make recommendations for the upcoming session on whether or not we need to make changes to that the the board or commission structure or their authority or do away with them so as as looked into it I ask for some of these reports and found out that they have never been filed would they just were never filed in the last couple of decades nobody could find them so That being said we had staff reach out to the boards and commissions and say Hey can you go ahead and try to get these reports to us and they informed us that because of the work part time they didn't qualify because they'll consider themselves full time state boards and commissions and so that begin the process of what what you see before you is striking that out and then creating a process by which of those boards and commissions will have to come before J. P. R. if they're not going to give that report to J. P. R. and then The Amendment that's on the the Senate amendment that we're just adopted will make it to where JKR has the option of suspending that border commission's authority if they if they choose to right now the bill before The Amendment required them to be suspended automatically so um this this gave them the option to do so but also did draft report by December of that year for the upcoming session on what to do with the boards and commissions going forward and I think that's pretty much it in that shall mourn have to try to answer any questions you. There was any question senator Tucker. Thank you Mr chair thank you represent Dotson so do I have a right that if they don't submit a report by August first. They they basically have a month to do it otherwise this legislation mandates they be abolished that that's part of the The Amendment I don't have a copy of the amendment in front of you but that's part of your is your company in the in the on the other line. I'm you're I think you're referring to line twenty one of Page two. Is that I think that moves it to December is it gets moved from sept striking September putting December in there okay it's also changing that shall to may and adding in that that they may After the word year there on that line. It changes it to. By August first of the even numbered year by the JPR Committee Basically the next APR Committee they may suspended session wiring it automatically okay the shall that you're talking about is Page two line twenty. That one as well is being being. change to a may okay and it may direct deal are to draft legislation okay one twenty eight twenty that was my other question because I was concerned about binding future General Assembly and yeah I know it just it requires fee requires the boards and commissions to submit the report but then J. P. R. we'll have the discretion whatever J. P. R. make up at that time sounds good thank you represent thank you Mr all right. Members of the further questions on the bill. Representantes are you closing just ask for do pass as amended all right at the proper time do we have anyone speak for against saying none have a motion to pass for Senator English as a second from Senator Bledsoe walls favor say aye All opposed no. Bill passes thank you very much. All right membership Senator Wallace. And. Trying to be accommodating here so that everybody can can get gone said Wallace I believe you're going to present house bill twelve thirty six right for represented very. Yes no Sir I saw your whether. And you get a little one there for a. Represent a fight to Billy right why don't we run both of them then we run one right after the other. If you just state your name for the record and and also Colonel few would saying. Sir Senator Wallace Mister twenty two. Bill Bryant director the Arkansas state police thank you sure house bill twelve forty six is a good common sense bill. What we're doing is in times of civil disturbance or crime in progress would allow the governor to decide which of law enforcement agency is going to be in charge it could be state troopers depending on the situation or it could be our game fish personnel. But the the key here is that when we're in a time of crisis we able to read very quickly and say you're in charge make things happen. In the end now do you have a question on here because number one I recall when the latest incidents needs for this was the Mister rich is the trouble it was here at the state capitol yes Sir I see they're in line thirty thirty one. This is only applies if the State Capitol grounds in the state in at the State Capitol Building. Or can he not set up a unified command if there was a disturbance a disturbance in and Jonesborough. For some reason. Quick. Chairman that's a good question shall be what the majority of our disabled if you don't mind taking that all efforts that that Max not doing to great today thank you Sir is that better yes Sir that's a good question but majority of our our civil disturbances in Bala protests have occurred here at the capitol and that's that's a lessons we learned from back in late may early June and Senator Wallace hit run on that time is of the essence when he makes a when the governor was able to designate who's gonna be in charge of unified command if you remember last time we had to do the executive order and that was on like Monday or Tuesday and we started the protest on Saturday so the main thing we consider most of our civil disturbances are here at the capitol so that's why we strictly focus here on the capitol and in those cases. I'll be honest with you I wish you would lead you to do in other places. Because in Conway and they're not been reinforcements sent to Conway I remember being told that they would have been overwhelmed. I just wonder was there not any thought to that and if there was thought when the decision was made not to allow that authority I think it in most of the outlying areas it it pretty much takes care of itself because when you get here in the little rock or you have to the largest police agency at Little Rock police department and you have the Arkansas state police that's over a thousand law enforcement officers so I think that's what we focus usually I know in Conway they requested us the state police we came up there and and assisted the in downtown Conway on the interstate but our main focus is here the cap less where the majority of ours I think on lap outlying areas were able to to work that out could you have such a large amount and plus two. Only civil servants and we're looking at things here at the capitol you have an active shooter or you have a barricaded suspect in here you know we have five hundred people we have a thirty minute slot team so we should be able I mean you know state police should be designated to control those assets so not only the civil protest we're talking you know active shooter barricaded suspect here in the capital. Based on on your discussion on that I'm just interested as a way of education was the incident that we had that occurred over several days here back during the summer I guess it was was that the worst situation or incident of damage widespread on our Capitol grounds that has ever occurred. To my knowledge I've been the director of for seven years but I also is that the agent I was in the state for twenty thirty years and I think historically if it is the largest that I'm aware of you know we only call the National Guard out in a couple This Is Central High School in here and we had some other prison rights in Fort Smith but as far as the Capitol grounds to my knowledge that is the largest we Pat. Well I appreciate you for bringing the bill was definitely needed and thank you for entertaining my question because I do recall conversation in mon district about what was going on at that time and so senator thank you for presenting the bill members any other questions on bill. I have no other questions I'm closer to close the bill would anyone like to speak for against the bill. Sing nine I have a motion to pastor Senator English second from senator garner roles favor say aye All opposed no thank you very much. Appreciate what you do to come right. In you wanna go ahead hit them when they're Senator yes Sir okay. Sure state senator Dave Wallace district twenty two sure house bill twelve forty five as a another good bill good common sense bill when our juveniles that are in Attrition. Transition into adult authority and they had to be transferred to our our other facilities we have a cliff and we're not allowed to transfer their health records really anything over to the adult center in this bill addresses that you still see the access to review these records and to notify the issues that may be happening with these individuals coming over to us. the bill requires that the Department promulgate. Rules governing the procedure for requesting and utilizing these records. In the rules would have to be reviewed by the following part imitation it would be the House agents and children. the committee is of Senate Intrum Committee on Children and used in A. L. C. rules of the Commission we have ample oversight. Right. Members any questions on this bill. I don't see any question Sir and you have anything further no Sir I'm closed all right they would like to speak for against the bill. Seeing none as a motion to passion Senator Bledsoe one second from Senator English all those in favor say aye opposed no. Thank you for your major members thank you very much. Members thank you for your patience represented Lowery I do not see center Sullivan in the room I was going to ask about his particular bill that all seeing is not here I wanna go ahead. We are we can ask him if you think she's a be relatively quick here. Represent Larry I really appreciate you coming dating these members of. Yes center so when If you state your name for the record thank you Mr chair senator Dan Sullivan. You're recognized Sir thank you this is a kind of a clean up bill you know that we have some issues a while back what it meant to be to copy public records join one went into the your local courthouse to get the records they were taking pictures and there were the someone charge them for taking a picture it's been to court it's been litigated and this bill just defines what a copy is so when you read that the purpose of this act is to clarify that the term copy used in their freedom of information act includes the ability of citizens to capture still and moving images through image capture including still and moving photography and videos and digital recordings so we try to capture all of those different Abilities and mechanisms for capturing including looking forward we don't know what will come up in the future but this language we think captures that we talk with the association of Arkansas counties and others who are involved in they're all supportive there's no one opposed to it to my knowledge. Hey glad to answer any questions right. The senator Tucker. Thank you Mr Cher I am. My questions about section for and whether or not. Whoever's being requested records of can charge a fee. Is it currently law that the government can charge a fee for copying paper and whatnot if that's already there so if your paper copying there's a charge there yes my concern is that the way section four is written. It the way I read it is that the custodian may not charge a fee for any type of inspection a copy. When it says including without limitation as just one example of what. You can be charged for. You're not I'm not an attorney I know this went through the for the task force and they all agreed it went through the Fauria coalition and they all agreed and the attorney said look at that Senate interjects. In thank you thank you may be answered in this says except as provided in section twenty five nineteen one oh nine. The custodian may not charge a fee okay so except as provided. In the greater statute. Okay she were saying yes Sir yes I believe that I believe that is the question I think this is also in twenty five minutes and one one oh nine is post one of them okay. And then the other question I had is that the manner of obtaining copies. Would still be the same still gonna be during regular business hours and all that are. Okay thank you thank you Mr all right thank you very much as a good point and I had we talk about that a little bit I think I would've question to to but thank you for Lamidi interject on that members any other questions on this bill. saying nine U. close for your bill service thank you anyone like to speak for against the bill. Sing nine I have a motion to pass from Senator Davis drive second. Senator Bledsoe all's fair say aye opposed no bill passes thank I centers in thank you Mister you know just let me know on those others were holding those for you thank you Sir represented Lowery if I had a gift to give yet do it Sir for allowing you to let people who had run this very kind of you. and members thank you for your work we've cleared the decks really good here today and So Representative Lowery you're recognized for presentation of house bill eleven twelve Thank you Mr chairman. Everyone that went before we could have just a challenge me to foot race and I would have been they would beat me up here so L. as just to keep your feet on the ground yeah okay good Full house bill eleven twelve is as you probably know is the of voter ID bill we originally passed voter ID in two thousand seventeen it was followed up it at that point then by a constitutional amendment that was referred to the voters in the two thousand eighteen election cycle that was put together by represented Lundstrum. Two thousand seventeen the only data that I really had to show support for voter ID was a Gallup poll and two thousand sixteen is that eighty percent of Americans favor voter ID we did not have Arkansas specific information is very interesting when it was brought before the voters in two thousand eighteen the Arkansas voters it passed with seventy nine point five percent so Gallup that polling was spot on so let me just tell you some of the other polling in support of voter ID from Gallup Gallup of looked at the Republican Democrat independent. A Republican is ninety five percent support Democrats sixty three percent support by Democrats a voter ID independence eighty three percent one of the other really telling demographic breakouts what you look at it Lowery. Surgeon would you please ask them to move the loud stuff where we can hear and hear that. For me this okay of which break down by color whites eighty one percent supported voter ID non whites by seventy seven percent so this voter ID is something that is accepted in appreciated by so many because there's so many aspects of our life where you do have to present a photo ID so why not make sure that there's verification of your identity for voting. I remember being asked many times about whether there were widespread cases of fraud I I never even presented Anything related to fraud what I was most concerned about was the polling that showed that the election integrity was something that many Americans were concerned about by large percentages Only thirty one percent in the gatt same Gallup poll worker confident in the accuracy in the accuracy of voting I think we've seen this year a lot of concerns about especially with absentee ballots where the original bill of the two thousand seventeen legislation said that if you cast an absentee ballot you shooting close with the the packets a copy of your photo I. D. or you can substitute for the photo ID with a signed sworn statement. That's really what we're changing today is that we are removing the signed sworn statement as a substitute for the photo ID and I think one of the main reasons to two main reasons one the voters in two thousand eighteen supported a pure voter ID photo voter ID bill they did not vote for signature verification or signet sworn statement that was not included in the constitutional amendment that went to the voters it had been included in this two thousand seventeen statute but was not repealed by two thousand eighteen constitutional amendment so really what you would be doing today she would be returning photo the voter ID to the intent of the voters were seventy nine point five percent said we want verification of ballots to be done by showing a photo ID the other instance that I think that there has to be looked at in a curved in various places in Arkansas certainly Pulaski County had a number of instances we're looking at provisional ballots to three four weeks and a lot of that was because of the the problematic issue of signature verification one in in one article talking about signature verification a forensic analyst said that a professional you know it takes them sometimes several days maybe even a week to really accurately approve the veracity of the signature and yet we're asking our untrained election workers and I sale only say untrained in terms of signature verification we're asking them to do it in seconds and so it is an unreliable standard there is no uniform standard for signature verification but certainly showing a photo ID presenting it. when you vote in person or presenting it with your absentee ballot is a is a uniform standard it is very easy to look at that photo to look at this the accompanying information that's on it and be able to verify the identity of the voter so that's a summary of what the bill does I know that you probably have questions and I know there the old bees some day will speak against it now have responses to some of their testimony right. Membership any questions represented Lowery. Senator joker. Thank you Mr represent Larry for the absentee ballots which you mentioned are the poll workers not already doing a signature verification. In order for that for absentee ballots to the poll workers not also do a signature verification for that process will the signature the signature verification that I'm referring to is being able to look at that sworn statement and be able to compare it to any other signature that they might may have on file right I understand that my question is for the absentee ballot process to the poll workers not have to match the signature on the estate ballot application to the signature on the voter registration application well that is taking place but it can it also raises the concern of signature verification of whether there is a an absolute standard on that but it is something that's being done but it is what I'm trying to do is make sure that when the actual ballot is cast that you have some type of a stroke of a uniform standard which the photo ideas that signature verification is not in uniform standard. Okay that's the only question I have I'd like a check up to speak on the bill at the proper time Mr right senator garner. Thank you so. Essentially under the current law correct me if I'm wrong. A voter can go up there sign the provisional ballot in the signature and never had to present in any kind of form I. D. or any kind of document identify meant this to my main correct about that that is correct so it's almost like a loophole around the voter ID law or some I can just sign the statement under perjury we understand that but never be held accountable never having the match the documents to their actual voting that they did that's right when it was of. I regionally Ince two thousand seventeen pass the bill in the house with I believe something like seventy four votes and did not have the signature verification as part of it but I I I did have some individuals come to me both of from the right in from the left loosely and suggest that you know this may be something that ought to be looked at added to make sure the voters are not disenfranchised I I did go ahead and add it mainly because I felt like they would be some ability to do follow up if there what were a fraudulent signatures submitted what will what has been discovered is there's really no way to do follow up on that fraudulence signature I mean even even if you have someone show up in person saying that they are someone and they sign you you know you don't have any photos or video of coverage in the polling place so there's no way to to verify whether that was the the person who attested that they are voting as say jondo the photo ID though is a more absolute standard another question for you Mr so say I go to voting place early and or the date election I forgot my wallet you can still cast a provisional ballot the only changes now you have to go up there again to shorten that actualized the showing that you're the person you say your so you can cast your ballot even if you do make a mistake or don't have at that time and you just heard by going up to the courthouse again correct absolutely as and when we certainly found by the plastic county example that provisional ballots were counted I believe three weeks after after the election and it did have an effect on the results so it's not like you have a lost vote. Thank you Mr. Yeah. Members any other questions Senator Davis yeah I I mean I'm just curious about people who do and don't have their ID with them and have to come back the next week if they don't have transportation or they're disabled person I mean I have a two year old with down syndrome and thank and when she's older and has the ability to vote for herself and maybe myself or my husband or whatever siblings isn't around and she you know hopefully gets a driver doesn't have already on or maybe she doesn't have a driver's license and and that she can't come back the next week and. Show up at the county clerk's office to vote and same thing with senior citizens I mean I know you've heard those talking points but I think they're really valid and I hate to make policy I'm for voter ID laws I just hate to make policy based on one specific situation that happened in the state. This election cycle and if it's not a problem really for thousands of others across the state and the Election Commission and can determine whether or not it's valid I don't I don't really know why we would throw out all of those ballots and make it even harder for people to come back within you know a week later to show an ID I just to me that's a really like an even heavier burden on people and that maybe can't get back within the week. How I mean how do you like are you just okay with that I guess that if people can't get. I don't have the ability to get back to the on transportation I think is a very unfair latest phrase the question that I don't care of course I care about people being had it being difficult for them to come back and take care of it but you know sometimes to protect the integrity of the vote difficulty does occur We you know we we have made provisions for instance for those who do not have ID's for that to provide them with free ID but to answer your question about their ability to come back I understand that that's problematic but it's also it's become more problematic trying to ensure that we have the correct people voting saying who they they are and it wasn't just one anecdotal example in plaster county signature verification was an issue all over the country in multiple states that there were concerns about whether there was a valid standard being used for verifying signatures so it's it's a major issue. Is it an issue any other place in Arkansas that you know as. I I'm not we're aware of it because for me right now I see that and it isn't an undue burden and we currently in law have a way to make it not be so burdensome which is to let them cast a provisional ballot and sign it signature statement knowing that they're committing perjury if they're doing so falsely and so I think that please give the ability to help with that burden and by taking that out we are creating an unnecessary burden on a majority of those voters who I think are legitimate voters and that you know that concerns me. Well it and again the question comes and who do you prosecute for perjury you have no and I I frankly fell into that trap of believing all you know what they're signing under part penalty of perjury how do you prove who the person is the committed perjury by that fall signature. All right members you have any other questions. Senator Hester. Senate estimates a valid point have you considered an amendment that. Or just excluding those that are disabled or elderly from this I understand you know I mean if I forgot on Friday you know shame on me or Tuesday and I can come back it's not a big deal but it does concern me those in some certain populations that it could be a bit of a burden to I would like to see an amendment for that that may not satisfy center Davis is concerns just a thought right. Right. Members any other questions. See new questions do you have anything further to add at this time you'll be allowed to close for the bill of course I'll close at the appropriate time okay we do have several people that are signed up against to speak against this and so in senator Tucker to you to your point or you want to speak classically we will have everyone speak for against the bill in which the motion is on the table then will change for the members to speak for against that motion so we'll come back get you the and their and obviously Lau represented Lowery close for his bill with appropriate tax of revision Lowery we're gonna have several people come up and just time so presheaf your presentation. And I've got several people on the list so I'm going to call the will call the names off so that we can have you be ready yes feel free set they represent Lowery two networks for but I have Kathleen Beatty and I'm gonna call you wanted to time for your presentation but I want to have you be on deck and ready so we have carefully Beatty Laurie Evans misdemeanor thank the main guess now Mathews TJ sentiment down and Diane curry so Kathleen Beatty if you're here would you please step forward and And. Those of you in the audience as soon as the the person finishes before you please be ready and that we would expedition. What's that. You can make that motion. Yeah five. Per person total. Per person. That that gives you a total of thirty minutes if you want that much time. So that your motion center. We have a maximum of five minutes maximum for. Each person question one motion I'm sorry question on the motion. We do I'll take that discussion we have a second promotion said second okay we'll get a second senator garner and you said you have a discussion on the motion yes Sir does that include quick Q. and a with legislators I'm just trying to clarify how would you want to determine that that's what Senator English is nodding so I'll make that determination that we've got five minutes total for comments I hate to limit question of of a member to be honest with you but let's just that make that presentation make sure and but I will tell you the best said this is to get you points made so that other people can can have an opportunity to be heard it's come today so uh we have a motion and a second for limitation debate five minutes for personals favor say aye opposed no and the motion passed it passes so everyone is aware of the standard staff will keep the clock and allow me to tell me when we get to this point so miss Betty if you would please state your full name and who you represent for the record yes Kathleen Beatty indivisible of little rock and central Arkansas. You said indivisible yes what is indivisible it is a grassroots organization that is dedicated to registering a voter registration voter education holding political our political representatives accountable for their actions. So okay thank you you're recognized. I thank you for allowing me to speak today I am actually speaking on behalf of that C. Cheryl the Benton county Clerk and by the way a Republican who could not attend today this is for state will out I want to tell you that that actually is typically not admit it I can't come and read a statement from someone if if you want to give her if you've got something written yes you did you want to have the staff copy in the amount that we typically don't allow somebody to come and read somebody else's words into testimony okay that actually begins to be a bit here say so do you have anything that you want to summarize that you want to say on behalf for against the bill well very respectfully I deal with this bill is a a solution and term looking for problem I think in speaking with the county Clerk several of them who do oppose this the bill is unnecessary that approved to provide say undue burden on people like we've talked about before elderly handicapped people Arkansas is currently one of only I think maybe two or three states that actually require a photo copy a photo ID with an absentee ballot a the absentee ballot itself provides protection because it is sent directly to the address and the name of the person who is registered so they're getting at at their home and that provides some protection right there so again I I think I think I think the consensus from the people I've talked to who are involved in in administering voter voter A loss bill is unnecessary and just creates a lot of bureaucracy and people to jump through hoops to do something they should be able to do that there is there is our protections now you can when you send in a an absentee ballot you are sending your name your birthdate your address all of those things have to match along with the signatures from your original absentee your absentee ballot application as well as your voter registration other Benny safeguards in place for that and of this law just put some burdens on people who are legitimately just trying to exercise your right to vote so that would be my summary okay thank you I apologize I didn't know that that was the situation well I I didn't realize that either it's yes again be happy for a letter to speak for itself if you want that distribute our members yeah and I do have a copy of that and I want to ask you clarify because it's interesting to me you say that you're reading that on behalf of the county Clerk yes do you work for the for the county Clerk hours it did she ask you to submit there was a person who someone and it wasn't actually me and I I don't know Laurie wants to speak to that but just someone who contacted us and said Hey this this Clerk I know that you are having interest in this bill this Clerk also has an interest in this bill and I believe someone in our organization talked to her and she said well I can't come to testify but I would love to I would love to submit a statement with my feelings okay thank you see why we don't necessarily come to head out but I appreciate you come near enough members or any questions for ms Beatty. Especially thank you and again since you're the first one if you want the committee to have that letter yeah I will have staff quickly make a copy so that they can have it probably have it you're just a few moments okay all right thank you ma'am okay Thank you next up is Laurie Evans. And I don't have anyone signed up to speak for sure we're all these will be against Laurie Evans you're recognized common present. This. If you would please state your name and who you represent for the record. You. It's review need to press that button again. Is that thank god that is in your more than six feet so feel free if you feel comfortable I'll pull it back to you. The judge or than six feet if you need to remove your mask sometimes you just can't hear people with masks eye and I'll leave it on but if you do have trouble understanding please let me know that that really want to make sure that respect your time. honorable chairperson honorable senators thank you for the opportunity to address the committee today I'm Laurie Evans also with indivisible little rock and central Arkansas we are as cat stated aggressors group that registers educates and mobilizes voters with our sister chapter the northern Arkansas indivisible has some two thousand members statewide in we do oppose H. B. eleven twelve. As a law H. B. eleven twelve would disproportionately disenfranchise older people and those with disabilities as we have already heard today for example a friend of mine help this mother vote last November she was seventy she has developed a medical condition and relax and had to give up driving since you last voted she is this would be the first time that she absentee voted in twenty twenty he walked her through how to complete her ballot packet but when they got to the part of including a copy of her photo ID she couldn't find her driver's license she had been using it so she lost it fortunately in her case they dug up her passport recently expired but still acceptable next problem she didn't have a printer so my friend took the password to his house to make a copy and print it out and then travel back to his mother's house so she could include the copy in her absentee ballot packet. So if you will please thank of all of the elderly people in Arkansas those with disabilities that limit their ability to drive how many thousands of our Kansans don't have a current photo ID because they don't need it for anything other than voting. Don't have a son who lives nearby with a flexible schedule who's able to assist an elderly parent through the process he does own a printer and a vehicle for transporting copies and bought tickets for those in default in hearing room today those might feel like easy requirements to meet but I'm asking you to please think about those for whom it would not be able to be here today who just simply wouldn't be able to calm people for whom seemingly small obstacles are actually insurmountable as a senator Davis House thirty dollar quickly spoken about. so with this bill as law there are constituents who voted for you in two thousand eighteen or in twenty twenty who would not be able to vote for you in twenty twenty two. No assessment of this bill's impact on Arkansas voters has been offered despite relevant data readily being available from county election commissions for example some twenty eight hundred voters in the sponsors and county could have had their ballots rejected how did the law but what about other counties your counties keep in mind that research including from livid libertarian Cato Institute suggests that pose voter photo ID laws don't alter election results there's not been a lot of research on that but it's worth looking at. It would definitely impede individual our Kansans Democrats Republicans and non partisans alike from being able to exercise their right to that. Representative Lowery says accurately Americans voters faith in the election system is eroding. That is true but the cost is largely due to the failure of our leaders nationwide to reject false claims of voter fraud and still win elections. The bill sponsor is adjusted that the only way to improve voter confidence is through voter photo ID we had indivisible suggest a more effective way to strengthen voter confidence would be for public officials to publicly state the truth about our elections in no uncertain terms there is almost no voter fraud they were and in fact zero cases in the bill sponsor Stone County a voter ID related fraud in the November twenty twenty election statewide the ACLU's work on this issue since two thousand thirteen making public records request administrative offices of the court and they've never found any evidence of voter ID related fraud. If lawmakers shared that fact that information widely with voters wouldn't that strengthen voter confidence. There's no need for a bill that doesn't actually fix any real problem with our electoral system there is a need to educate voters on the truth and the robustness of our system better election officials diligently train election staff so that they can run safe secure reliable elections year after year. The truth is the history of voter photo ID laws in America are rooted employment and political modifications that create more bureaucracy without a dependable objective in disenfranchised voters without access to certain resources fourteen seconds we respectfully ask the committee to not add to this like at legacy we respectfully ask you to vote now thank you very much for the opportunity to speak thank you. These questions senator Senator Bledsoe you're recognized and we senator garner. We I said I'm going to rule on that yeah so the members have an opportunity that they can do that please Senator Bledsoe yes thank you Mr chairman I just had a couple questions and maybe really just want to mention that all your friend needed her driver's license for was the. when I went to get mine of corona virus vaccine I had to have my drop I had to have my driver's license the cina. I have no idea ma'am check out a library book I have to have. A a driver's license. When I'm flying on the plane but but you don't need to have a driver's license for the. To obtain a library card I mean excuse me I'm I'm probably not supposed and helped policies. We don't I'm just saying that there are other reasons cashing a check their times even now that ask from a property cage so I'm I'm. I wonder how many people don't need a driver's license. The close of there are some obviously but there I mean it's a very convenient way to identification I think you are getting a corona virus vaccination. A or you are. You know flying on a plane. So thank you again though what I would say is that if you do need a driver's license to obtain those particular services and you can't get a vaccine without one why at not being able to vote to that list on there there are people with disabilities older folks House on folks who are not able to easily leave their house and obtained photo ID if they you know and it's just and it's terrible that they also perhaps can't check out books take flight on a plane let's not add disenfranchised in the right to vote as well. Thank you. All right. Senator garner thank you ma'am you said here plastic county you think that the process for voting election that it was fair equitable and that we don't need to add an extra burgers two is that correct. All. I would say that generally speaking that across state wide in our elections are generally run into fierce if the plastic Lasky county I'm sure you're getting at with the law what is interesting to say the least in the last election cycle and there were definitely some troubles but I think we can be we have might might have some differences on word what were those problems came from I guess my issue is is that we know undisputed fact that three hundred and seventy two disqualified absentee ballots were put into the election count and we're tabulated in elections including for district thirty two which is with al a the number of disqualified at the ballot was greater than the number that took to win that election so it seems like there is some disparities within the election process specifically dealing with at the ballot also I know that here plus the county they found a box of absentee ballots a week or two after election that was not counted so simply saying that there is zero evidence of issues within our election process I think is very suspect and on top of that it seems like the majority of this issue reporter for weeks weeks came with matching the signatures with the absentee ballots with having to go through that process if we win a streamlined greater process wouldn't reduce the amount of fraud issues we see in our elections. first of all I would clarify that I specifically said there are zero evidences there is zero evidence that any voter I. D. related problems so I was action not speaking to elections in general but I would say is that if you look at the number of ballots cast in Arkansas last year and that they're out of the gosh and I should have this off the top of my head what was it one and a half million or something and that there or you know if there is a problem with a few I think that An action that's not going anywhere this that fully answer your question. I guess what I would say is that again there is no evidence that there is any kind of fraud or problem with voter I. D. in the use of there's been no evidence of fraud with that if you're in in terms of trying to increase voter confidence withdrew relation to our election process sees. state wide our elections went very smoothly Pulaski County did have some troubles and you're absolutely right we need to make sure that the process in terms of how the ballots are counted is definitely transparent moving forward one more for Mr from my. What multiple ballots disqualified through the absentee ballot process it wouldn't if you allow those people to come up there for center ID which I know there was push to once those ballots were found to have signature verification actually by I believe you your group and others to get people actually did show up with an idea to validate and secure their ballot in that actually reduce the amount of this call about voters that that fry in franchising folders that their vote is actually counting. I thank I'm sorry what. This is a we thank you for being here ma'am I'm dies I guess I'm not able to think as quickly on my feet with regard to the question of create your time asking you know try to get more information thank you for coming we have several people behind you Miriam Dominguez if you're in the House. Members your getting of the the statement that was provided by the lady the Senate first it it appears to be a maybe an email statement to read you do have that you can utilize it as you wish of course but Is to make it my pronouncing that right to me yes yes. Thank you for being here today if you would state your name for the record and who you represent and you are far enough away if you want to remove that so we can hear you clearly that's that might help us okay yes I'm Merion Dominguez I'm with Arkansas United and we are an immigrant advocacy groups state wide immigrant advocacy group and yes so I initially was the same as cat going to say it testimony on behalf of the garland elections and. Commissioner but I will get into the. Because I well into with indivisible as well so just keep it short and sweet and how this would affect I guess the immigrant community and it kind of highlights a different problem. And the. So this for me to create more challenges for minority communities of course such as Hispanic or Marshallese and sometimes the process for obtaining like an accurate IT and can be difficult because of cultural barriers at the DMV and. So I know that this has nothing to do with the DMV but just in terms of an ID and. It's probable it's a prevalent issue in our community where. And they swap the surname so something as small as that in which I know that Edie's easy fix but in our community you know once you get your ID like you don't care well they don't care that it's messed up so I have my eighty it's fine they don't get and. The depth of the issue as in like if it's messed up you're gonna be disqualified from voting and everything and yes I just urge you all to please vote no on this and the. All right and thank you for your questions. See any questions we appreciate your time and for being here thank you. Now Matthew should. I'm no Matthews the spokesperson for the league of women voters of Arkansas the league is a hundred year old organ organization that has been involved in voter registration voter education candidate forms of voter information for all the length of its life. And I speak to you today in opposition to HB one one one two because we see it as another effort to suppress voters. The idea that is that we want to make people comfortable and. With elections and with the results and have faith in them and having faith in the people that we L. act and so we want to make it possible for voters to get to the polls with the information that they need to make informed decisions in our representational democracy. So. I you know I'm steeped in voter issues candidate forms learning who the voters the candidates are what they think and so forth but people very close to me don't have that same. Interment information they're busy with their lives they're doing other things they often come to me and say well who should I vote for say the league is nonpartisan we don't support people candidates we don't support parties you have to make your own decision but here go to this website get information and so they do I hope and they make informed decisions. Places like the university of Arkansas's cooperative extension service that has the ballot in the initiatives listed there is a wonderful resource and we put that on vote for one one which is our online voter guide which we list every candidate for every office in Arkansas and we give those candidates an opportunity to say what they think about issues and that's a way no other way to give people information so then we expect them to go to the polls and we expect them to make these informed decisions and then we put up a barrier and say but if you forgot your ID you're gonna have to cast a provisional ballot and you can swear that you are who you are after all you came you have the right address you have the right name you have the right birthday but we're gonna make you swear that that's who you are in a sign that and then there provisional ballot is checked against to make sure nobody else did that and it gets counted in an absentee ballot it gets mailed to the voter's home address and then they fill it out and they return it I mean it's going to be kind of hard to get in there and take that. Vote for something else but you may not have a printer at home and you may not have a. Photo ID. Will it make a difference Wallace just one vote. Well recently we had the run off election for house seat house seat number thirty six John Walker C. and you know by the time it got to the run off election there were fewer than five hundred people that came to that run off election and it was absolutely tied I think it was two hundred forty seven for one candidate two hundred and forty seven for the other candidates and finally the election was one because an overseas ballots came in an overseas ballot that was for one of the two and so that person went on to fill the seat. Well that overseas ballot didn't require a photo ID. So it was still counted would we throw it away now because it didn't have a photo ID copy in there it was a sworn statement came from the person it'd been mailed to you and it came back and it was deemed valid. So let's instead do things like figure out how we can get absentee ballots they get opened and put aside and that counted you know you check and make sure everything is right with them and they can get counted and you don't have to wait until election day to start processing them let's figure out ways to make the election runs smoothly and have not be under pressure so that we don't have a box that should not be counted get stuck in with the rest you have one that's really All I Want to say let's work on how to make the election Smith and let's work on how to make people feel comfortable and ready to go to the polls and not put up barriers thank you well I appreciate your comments as Matthews of I've actually worked with Lee women voters in my district in different places so I appreciate the work that you put in and to encourage elections to be honest fair I have one question yes then I thought of in this. So one of the eighty year old grandmother. That goes to vote and is told I'm sorry man you've already voted. What what about her well we're we're is we're is the the protection and the integrity of her right when she walks up and find out. I'm sorry you already voted. Well I guess my question is is what I'm saying sure is that. I think that one's vote. Is frankly Should be held in the highest regard the protection of your right to vote. And freely without impediment. But also the security of your vote and so I'm thinking about those folks that are on the other side of that equation because that happens that actually does happen in people get there and then they have this certain you know recognition that they're saying voted I didn't vote in there they're excited to be on election day so I just want to know why it is that there seems to be a struggle. To have the same level of security. For a vote do you would have to cash a check. In a grocery store or to go in and open an account or to get services for anything that requiring bills photo ID's it's something that most people have and you can even have an identification card it's not a driver's license so I'm honestly asking you wind that there is seems to be a bias about providing integrity and security of the vote. Could you and educate me a moment well in the case of the eighty year old woman perhaps yes she had already voted you forgot but in that case you call the supervisor in and they follow it up and if they need to it gets she can vote a provisional ballot and then it gets resolved later I mean that's how they do it it happens several times I'm told by county election commissioners that this is not an unusual instance but they almost always get it squared away. And so. Why. Why put a barrier up for years I walk into my polling place question to make sure to stay on target so yes so that we can move on is why is there bias against having a secure vote did reaches the level of integrity and we know that people are who they say they are and we just have a very simple way of asking them to prove that. Well I guess it's because it is hard for some people to get the ID's you say that county's all will provided I believe sometimes they found that the equipment that they're using to make the photo ID's have has not been used in a while and it no longer works and so then it's another trip back to go get that ID made its. It's so easy to say that we're gonna have photo ID's but then you get down to the individual cases and for some it's pretty hard and making a copy is pretty hard one of the things that I want to do is get a printer that I can plug into a phone so that I can snap a picture and print out an ID to give to people when they say come in and vote to register so that they'll have that means there's ways to get around it but is it necessary couldn't we work on other things instead to make it the elections better. Will I just ask them one comment I'll say is I have traveled overseas sense of work overseas and in those countries that are many times their democracies were literally just a couple of decades old three or four decades old and they actually go in and thumbprint. With ink so when a vote they take a phone print and eighteenth that would you be opposed to something like that well they did that until people started getting shot for having it on their hands but I don't want to thumb print people I want people to walk into their neighborhood polling place and vote will be greeted by name by the county the essential sitting there is no C. pull out and I do show it to her anyway ms Matthews I think that you would have an answer for everything but I don't think you're going to be shot in America if you want helps having to prove your ID thank you for your comments shall be after here today T. J. Simba McGill. And then after that we have nine curry. Thank you very much miss Matthews. I could afternoon my name is TJ some of the Dalby representing myself today. You're recognized Sir thanks. As a follow our cans and I do not want this bill to pass. Last year's election was very huge for my family for some in my family was the first time they voted. After my family was the first time we voted as a family. All of this in Arkansas as our Kansans voting as a family. What made the day so great was that I saw other families making a day out of it was a bright memory in a difficult time. It was a historic time for my family. We treated it like an event we got dressed up we took pictures we put it on my IG Facebook live date and everything Tags are entire family the photos or even posted on a national level in an effort to get more Filipinos to register to vote. It was in collaboration with the Philippine embassy actually and I made sure that Filipinos all over the world knew that it was in our cans in the family that was exercising the right to vote. We we moved my grandparents to Arkansas from New Jersey saw that the weather was warmer here felt that the pace was peaceful southern hospitality a grown on us a lot so much so that I moved back to Arkansas after living in Chicago for seven years because I felt that poem understood my hardships and my family's hardships but when I come up to the capital today and I see bills like this in my home state it not only makes me angry makes me hurt. I because I know I'm not the only our cans in with grandparents who have a hard time leaving their house right now I know I'm not the only our cans in with grandparents have a hard time walking right now I'm not the only our cans in who worries about if their grandparents can still see when they drive on the roads at night especially during inclement weather. I'm not the only our cans and thinks about what questions will my grandparents be asked once they get to the hospital can they get to the hospital will they be safe at the hospital and that's just the hospital I'm not even talking about Walmart and their medication the post office and if they know where to send things the apple store and asking how to set up their text messages or just going to the flea market and remembering which spot they parked their car in. And as a Filipino American our cans in which is witnessing the normalization of murders of Asian elders at the hands of ours in this country I now have to ask myself could my grandparents being murdered for just waiting in line to show their identification during a pandemic where Asians are stereo types with having a deadly disease that is responsible for the reason you are flying the American flag at half mast today. Will my grandparents live when they are faced with a life threatening situation I wish that my questions were just that questions but they're not the real issues that are cans in families are facing and when I see things like this bill I can't seem to understand I just asked my dad and he says to me do your best and let god take care of the rest. I understand it's one statements are still acceptable forms of identity that someone's written word is still acceptable in the rule of law. Just as much as the written word is still acceptable as a form of belief. I'm not I'm proposing that this bill should not pass because sworn statements are still acceptable forms of identity and my government still believes in me as long as that provide a sworn statement a written word that allows you to believe in the opposing this bill not pass because the way things are right now works the way it is that Arkansas that it's best during a global pandemic and got to care to rest our cans are coming out in gauging the government during a global pandemic and that said to me as a next generation our cans in that there still is trust in the government. Between our Kansans and their government which is why I am here today seem a representatives where they're at and asking from one our cans into all the our Kansans please don't pass this the grief all the lost family member is felt stronger than the loss to both at the dinner table some of our grandparents aren't even here anymore during an extremely difficult reality please do not add another step in an already difficult process my grandparents are trusting me with their legacy and I understand that trust is a hard thing to process between citizen a Representative right now my hope is that my presence here today is proof that the trust we have is our Kansans is one we can preserve because my grandparents are trusting me to not suffer anymore because as common sense as I've seen a lot of the bills that have been passed and presented today I feel it's common sense to know that a lot of the day the data center or Larry's presenting is prepaid none of the demos take aspect of how life is now in twenty twenty one as the son of a nurse who is currently at UAMS during her call the chief as we speak I'm supposed to be at home taking care of my grandparents ten seconds to do I'm sorry and just I just need to remind everybody of why that American flag at half mast. Right we appreciate your comments there was any questions. Question for senator garner in your a speech you said you worry about your grandparents when they drop they could not be able to see and have access to yes or no answer is that correct are you worried about a yes or no I'm always worried about so if I'm assuming they can derive they have a photo ID through a driver's license which would allow them in the through the process we have to turn an absentee ballot and never leave their home be verified and vote never having to risk their lives are coming in any kind of contact has not even thousands but tens of thousands or tens of did this last election. Is that correct I'm not a subject matter expert and how the government works I just know that my descendants come from like a dictatorship I'm Filipino so I know that the thank that aspect affects how they feel I would not. Generator that's a cultural barrier and they just want to they're trusting me to be I'm sorry I want to take up any no that's okay in a we respect passion around here it happened so you're welcome to do that of I got a question for you and and I'm not asking you to get personal all but I would just like to ask you. Do you have a bank account yeah. Do you want someone being able to go into your bank. And to write out your name and your address. And maybe even your date of birth. And to sign in name and say they are T. J. Simba McGill. And have access to your money in your bank account without any photo ID. They already have they do and is that with taxes a. I don't I don't know I don't know I don't the point is is that we're we have things in life with the security is so important. That there are double checks verifications of who you are so I just wanted you to think about because I think you're being honest in your in your presentation I think it's heartfelt that what you're saying I get that what I'm saying is is that I don't think any of us would want someone to be able to just walk into even your grandmother's account or my grandmother's our bank a bank and say oh by the way I'm here and I'm going to Senate name and can withdraw funds you would be so live it you would be so upset that they were so foolish as to let that happen and so the thing is is that what were what people are proposing here is that we want the vote of you and anyone else that's a citizen of this country to be held in very high regard and I just wanted to pose that to you and ask that you may be considered and I'd be happy to get an email from me I'd be happy to get a letter from you and talk it out because there's there's no need not be a reason for. Trying to oppose things that keep people thing secure for the voter and I don't know that I've even heard a question posed such as I've just post wish to say would you be comfortable with somebody just have an ability come into a bank and just sign that information and get access we wouldn't want that and I think that the voter is also important yes and so members you have any other questions for Mr symbol but now. I don't see any may I respond to that sure take thirty seconds I understand that I am the only one that looks like me in this room. and I I just feel like it's just important that thank I. At that aspect be presented to the table I don't I a business as much as that's a truth that I may not ever understand where you're coming from I know that it's a true thank you may not understand where I'm coming but I really appreciate having the opportunity that Mr some of the bill I grew up with the notion that we were melting pot. Everyone of us here that I know of has somebody that came from somewhere else and so that's what Americans about is becoming Americans and so we appreciate you being here and representing your views and I appreciate your passion you might make a good preacher one of the station and you never know thank you for being here thank curry Europe. James join me acting classes that I think I apologize okay yes thank you sis since then have some comments as well. Okay we'll she's. Not signed up but I'm going to allow it. And and do that and so if you would please state your name and who you are for the record okay I'm Diane curry I'm the current president of the Little Rock branch in double ACP and also the state in EE CPS is supporting our efforts today okay and would you mind go ahead and state your name and who you represent. I'm Natalie James also the political activist year the endeavor double ACT here in Little Rock chapter okay in Mr you presented a letter yes it was here I'm going to allow the letter but I just wanna know. That the letter said nothing about this bill it was a general statement that was pretty inflammatory about your positions on several other things in general but I just want to know that it actually was had did set not say one thing about this particular bill it said a lot of things but I'm going to allow it to the members I have no problem I I value information so I'm going allow that that's fine but I just want to mention to you that that next time you come which you probably another time it would be helpful to if you're going to address the bill please address it if you could so and you're gonna do that now right to that I want to let her know I look through to actually read the entire letter and I just never saw direction you know reference so I just want to make that point for you because you're gonna be doing this a lot in the future I'm sure so yes a wrecker ma'am I appreciate that thank you so much for a loan as to be here today and be a part of this I'm going to reference the letter and she's going to share some things about the letter a little bit more in detail. I think it's very relevant with the letter that was written as an open letter to the legislators because it deals with. The sentiment. Of what it deals with the sentiment. Yes sentiment of oppressive Bills. Despaired Bills. Oppressive depressive disenfranchisement. And. We continue the fight be an organization like the N. double ACP to look out for. People that aren't disenfranchised and when we look at a bill like the one that's been present we know. We work we work a lot in voter education getting people registered as well like several of the organizations within the room here today and we just feel that we have to speak out because we know that people are disenfranchised they're not able to several things have been said today that I think were great things that were said and brought out concerning our right to vote be able to vote but to require. And I. D. that it may be difficult as stated by several others today to get an audit ID of that type. So your vote will be counted so to me that's at the spearmint that's that's the spare and the disenfranchisement so I want to just going to say that I think there are other ways as stated previously by several people have already spoken I worked previously with the league of women voters and very proud that over my years of being a community leader and being involved in the public a lot we don't want to discourage people from being involved and I think that this is one of the things that when we see all laws like this being present that's a that's definitely a distinct urge men to anyone that you're you're trying to to get people to the polls to vote because. The vote determines what happens to our communities. So the more people that vote you vote on the concerns of the year. Community end up your families and and that that type of involvement so to me is very important that we just don't allow laws to be made like this and I just wanna move back to one comment that was made previously. And the defense in two thousand seventeen when the original of constitutional law was put on the books of Arkansas. I recall that a lot of us did not support that Beals and I was one that did not support that. Because it was misleading there are a lot of things misleading in the way that that bill was presented and put on the books and two thousand seventeen. And of course some information has been revealed but I know in the circles that I was seeing and being involved with people that I know from my community it was misleading talk to a large degree so we just want to be right for all people we won't laws that are for the best interests of all citizens. And not for some. So that's my concern is that it is a disenfranchisement to our community and we represent in double ACP here across the state about twenty two hundred members and their families friends we represent a large constituency groups that is concerned with bills like this being passed without. Maybe some adjustments being made to it. Thank you thank you ma'am you're recognized all right I'm Natalie Johnson I'm gonna read. Qatar read this briefly and then I'm gonna try to read this briefly in fast John at the letter the letter it when it's shared the letters been presented to I'll ever try to have all is just for the people that are in here they don't have a copy of it is just I'm calling in every night and we would really appreciate it because of the time that factor that we have we've been very accommodating to please keep it on the topic the letters you know covers a lot of things outside the bounds of this discussion all right the letter covers encompasses pretty much progress appeals the voter suppression has been proven for years throughout history in Georgia selection that is the request of the bill that is going to hinder those who need to get out have their voice may were melting pot in everybody desires to have their voice heard regardless of whether they have ID are they have a bus pass or some type of identification because in this bill there's no clarification as to what type of identification is needed so the person doesn't have the proper identification you can now say that their vote doesn't count and throw it out and dismiss it is too many bait inconsistencies in it S. to how you're supposed to and the and identification indemnify this person are not like you said previously ordered communities not everybody carries an ID are remembers it it's a lot of different things that can go on and go wrong with how this bill is written and how it's addressing and how it is you suppressing those that matter. So. The main thing that we have to overcome as Arkansas as a whole as we have to use their considerable time effort and resources to overcome the statements that are attached to us we're great state and we need to continue to show that we're great state voting for progressive bills does not show that we are great state voting for voter suppression does not show that we're great state not letting all constituents be hired does not show that were great state limiting somebody's power because they don't meet your qualifications doesn't show that were melting pot are a great state we're done let's be that let's shine list what we can do across the nation we have the opportunity to do that the sessions that we have this session going on. These bills. P. back and beat into one another so we sent one presidents with this little bill on to the next what's going to happen later on down the line how is it going to prevent somebody else from voting are feeling included we've done enough excluding everybody we've done enough of making people not feel wanted. Rep everybody up and be going to the list feel left included together so I will touch on some of that but this is my brief summation of letter thank you very much thank members you have any questions for another person or yes ma'am the woman on my right your left Natalie there was named Natalie generally. Clarify for the record when you said that you don't know what the voter ID would actually be there's clarification within other parts of the code specifically signs out wanting and it can't be used as a voter ID also under Arkansas secretary of state's site they have listed what are applicable already so in secondary but are voting people that are down there are trained on that yes they don't have the right thing and sign off on the right things in that bill cannot count. As far as bringing the correct ID correct if they don't have the right secondary I've experienced it myself. Okay thank members. Our members any other questions. Seeing no questions thank you very much miss James curry appreciate presentation here all right thank you. Members I don't have anyone else that signed up to speak for against the bill representable Lowery if you make your way back. To the table. Represented Larry you be recognized to to close for your bill and and then at that point will entertain a motion and nine members if they have discussion on the motion okay. Thank you very much Mr chairman and let me just address one of the last points that that was being made about the. Forms of accepted ID we have a long list of forms within the original voter ID bill we allowed driver's license photo identification card concealed handgun carry license United States passport employee badge or identification document issued by an accredited postsecondary education institution United States military identification document a public assistance identification card if it has a photograph and of course of voter verification card that each county Clerk can provide to the secretary of state's office made those that equipment available to each of those counties The intent of this bill is not to disenfranchise it is not to suppress it is to have an absolute standard of verification and I think probably the most compelling evidence that I've seen of hello strong that photo ID is in terms of being able to verify a person's identity was watching I watch the claims commission hearing in the Sorvillo Hudson race and attorneys for miss Hudson represent of sets in we're going through ballots that had originally not been counted had not been allowed it but then were. to the batch that was counted and it wasn't supposed to and they were and miss Hudson's attorneys were pointing out that these ballots these vote should have been counted and they did that by showing photo ID's. Thank you did it by showing facsimiles of the photo ID's and saying that they did it been disallowed because there was a question about their address with the photo ID proves that they wrote the right address they just misspelled the word. So that was the most compelling it information that I've seen in being able to show that that is an absolute standard signature verification is not and so for those reasons I think you know we need to protect the integrity of the ballot I think that of the voters of Arkansas there's not very many issues were eighty percent of our Kansans vote in favour one position but this was one of those seventy nine point five to be exact in two thousand eighteen and what they voted for is exactly what you're voting for today photo ID voter ID not signature verification photo ID eighty percent of our Kansans in you would be joining them so I appreciate the opportunity to present the bill and I appreciate do pass from your committee. Members you've heard the debate and you for closing for the bill do I have a motion for the bill. I have a motion to pass Senator English I have a second from senator garner. Will open for discussion and if we would members this list let's try to get our discussion So that we can move on. Senator. Thank you Mr chair and appreciate the opportunity to speak on the bill no basis and given how much time that we've been here but I just want to start by saying what I think our goal is and I think it's your goal represent Lowery and in my goal and every member of this legislature and that is for. One hundred percent of lawfully registered citizens who go to cast their ballot for their vote to be counted in four zero fraudulent votes to be counted I believe that's all of our goals and ninety nine point nine percent of the public. I certainly know that it's mine and so the question is. You know how do we get there another issue raised in relation to that is if one person which I agree with if one person fraudulently cast a ballot that threatens elect election integrity have added absolute agreement with that in my opinion if a lawfully registered citizen of the United States and of the state of Arkansas goes to cast their ballot and they refuse that refused to be able to do that that also threatens election integrity. And that's where this bill becomes problematic we've heard a lot about voter ID today but I think it also is important to clarify what we're discussing today we're not discussing voter ID that's the law of the land represent Larry's talked about having a uniform standard for votes just because it's uniform. It doesn't necessarily mean it's right there could be a lot of uniform standards that would be the right one what we do have right now which is the law of the land is is voter ID in Arkansas that's not under debate what we're debating with this piece of legislation is whether there's can be an accommodation for someone who doesn't either have a for a photo ID or an absentee voter who cannot make a photocopy of their photo ID from their home when they submit their absentee ballot. And you know that's that's the reason for the accommodation so. Given what we're debating I think it's important to discuss what we know and if we can agree on what our goal is to count how to percent of the lawfully cast votes and no fraudulent votes there's an organization. Thank submitted a four year quest all seventy five counties after the twenty twenty election to see how many ballots were counted in their county in this way a provisional ballot without a photo ID. That was counted because of the sworn statement and they got responses from sixty four counties and there were two thousand six hundred and ninety nine votes cast that were counted in Arkansas by this means of all two thousand six hundred ninety nine there were no allegations of a fraudulent vote among any of the not one. So we know there were basically twenty seven hundred votes cast by lawfully registered citizens of Arkansas in the twenty twenty election that we would be disenfranchised and if we pass this bill and there's not one allegation on the other hand. That any of those votes were for fraudulent cast that's what we know in Benton county the letter we got from the been county Clerk to a two hundred sixty eight of those votes were cast in Benton County. We've had under what we haven't talked a lot about fraud today but we've had three cases of voter fraud in Arkansas in this century so three cases and in the last two decades twenty seven hundred votes lawfully cast without a single obligation of fraud and twenty twenty alone that we would be disenfranchised thing with this bill. So anyway our our wind down but the point I want to make is it threatens election integrity just as much to disenfranchise a lawfully registered citizens as it does for someone to produce only vote given the information we have available to us we know for certain that and I have total faith in your the sincerity of your statement that it's not your goal to disenfranchise voters. That's different what your intent is is different than what the impact is and we know for certain that the impact would disenfranchise thousands of Arkansas voters who are lawfully registered and and want to cast their sacred right to vote as as the chairman put it which I agree with and that's that's the problem we don't know that it's accomplishing anything because we don't have a single instance at least and twenty twenty that this provision was wrongfully used twenty seven hundred and and senses in which it was validly used and if this bill passes will be disenfranchised thing thousands of Arkansas voters and that's what I would encourage the members of this committee to vote against this bill. Senator check or have a question on that. How can you actually say. That is disenfranchise ing those people. You're you're the you're not staying in time it's not even it's not appropriate to say that because. If there had been a provision in the compliance for the permit provision they would have been fine. So how is it that you can logically make the statement that somehow that a change in in this the the standard now disenfranchises somewhere in the past I don't get that Sir well you're right we don't know what the number would be in twenty twenty two after this bill passes are a knowledge that however I think logically we can and we don't know what that number would be but I think we can deduce that if any of those twenty seven hundred voters had a photo ID that they could have presented at the polls or they had an ability to make a photocopy of their ID in their home when they submit their absentee ballot then they would have done that in twenty twenty. And and so we you know Senator Hester made this point earlier and I think you made a good point he had a question about people who are maybe disabled or elderly we know that. Even though we may not know all their names as we sit here in this room we know that the people who make use generally speaking of this provision are the most vulnerable people in the say they're the ones without a photo ID and yes there are not many I have a driver's license obviously I can be very easily go back to the polls to prove who I am and I can very easily present my driver's license when I vote. But. That that doesn't mean just because I can do with that one hundred percent of the people in the state can do it so we know that the there are people who are the most valuable members of our state who don't have that ability they didn't have and twenty twenty we don't know what the number would be Mister chairman but we know there will be some in twenty twenty to her in that same circumstance and those votes will not count even though they are lawfully registered citizens of the state their votes will not count and in my and in my judgment that disenfranchises those voters thank you for answering questions members or any further discussion on the motion. Seeing I have a motion do pass from Senator English the second from senator garner all those in favor say aye. All those opposed no. Bill passes thank represented Lowery thank you for initiated in the committee is adjourned.