TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE MARKING AND COUNTING OF PAPER BALLOTS.

House Bill 1884 aimed to update the laws concerning the marking and counting of paper ballots in Arkansas elections. It proposed that all hand-counted paper ballots include a unique watermark or ultraviolet ink seal for enhanced security in each election cycle. The bill also mandated that hand counts be completed within 24 hours of polls closing and at least 24 hours before the certification deadline; otherwise, machine tabulated results would be certified. It further outlined security protocols for any breaks during the hand-counting process, requiring ballots to be sealed and guarded, and specified minimum poll worker staffing.