Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas has achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the #1 spot in the nation for election integrity, according to the prestigious Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Scorecard. This announcement marks a significant rise from the state’s position at #8 earlier this year, a shift made possible by the tireless efforts of state leaders, most notably Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Secretary of State Cole Jester. Their determination to strengthen the state’s election security was a central theme of the recent legislative session, ultimately propelling Arkansas to the forefront of electoral transparency and trustworthiness.
“My goal this session was simple: make it easy to vote and hard to cheat,” Governor Sanders said. Her statement reflects the balanced approach the state has taken to ensure that elections are both accessible and secure. Sanders, who has prioritized electoral integrity since taking office, expressed pride in the hard work of her team, stating, “I was proud to work with my friend, Secretary of State Cole Jester, to make Arkansas ballot boxes the safest and most secure in America and end petition fraud to protect our Constitution. Today’s announcement shows that all our hard work paid off.”
Governor Sanders’ commitment to election security was echoed by Secretary of State Cole Jester, who shared in the pride of the state’s accomplishment. “As Secretary of State, I have said from day one we would have the most secure elections in the country. I’m proud of the work my team has completed implementing new procedures and technology. None of this would be possible without the great work of Governor Sanders and the men and women of the Arkansas legislature,” Jester stated.
Arkansas’ success is a testament to the collaborative efforts of state lawmakers, including key legislators who were instrumental in passing legislation aimed at safeguarding the election process. Senator Kim Hammer (District 16) commended the joint efforts of Governor Sanders, Secretary Jester, and the legislature, saying, “Heritage has long been the gold standard for ranking states for election integrity and security. Legislators, Governor Sanders, and Secretary of State Cole Jester have worked together as a team, on behalf of Arkansans, to help achieve the number one ranking in election integrity and security in the nation! We must continue our work to protect our number one ranking from those who want to take us backwards.”
The importance of upholding election integrity in Arkansas was highlighted by Senator John Payton (District 22), who stressed that election integrity should never be compromised for convenience. “We must fulfill our responsibility to get it right. I believe the commonsense changes made this year are true to these principles,” Payton said, emphasizing that the measures taken to protect the electoral process were in line with the state’s values.
Senator Matt McKee (District 6) also underscored the significance of this achievement in the context of American democracy. “Arkansas’ rise to #1 in the nation for election security is a significant achievement and a clear reflection of the strong conservative leadership and very intentional work done by the legislature,” McKee remarked. “The foundation of America’s constitutional republic relies on our ability to hold free and fair elections. While others work to undermine our republic, Arkansas has fought back to set a national example for how states can secure the electoral process and hold elections the people can trust.”
Rep. David Ray (District 69) highlighted the consistency and dedication of Arkansas’ leadership in fortifying election laws, reinforcing the idea that ensuring election integrity has been a continual focus. “There can be no doubt — we take election integrity seriously in Arkansas,” Ray said. “It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat, and this new ranking is a testament to the hard work that we’ve done the past few years to fortify our election laws.”
The desire to restore confidence in the electoral process was also evident in the words of Rep. Carlton Wing (District 38), who recognized the critical importance of the legislative efforts in the aftermath of contentious presidential elections. “The Presidential elections of 2016 and 2020 showed both parties can challenge results,” Wing explained. “The Legislature and Secretary of State’s office worked hard to pass laws to restore confidence in the electoral process. Arkansas now leads the nation in assuring our citizens that all legal votes must be counted and only legal votes should count. Today’s announcement demonstrates our efforts are setting a national standard in election integrity.”
Rep. Howard Beaty (District 95), Arkansas House Majority Leader, also celebrated the state’s new #1 ranking and emphasized the efforts of the Republican-led legislature in making this achievement possible. “In recognizing the dedication of the Republican-led legislature, the Heritage Foundation has propelled Arkansas to the pinnacle of election security rankings, from #8 to #1 in the nation,” Beaty said. “As Arkansas House Majority Leader, I take pride in these outstanding results, reflecting our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the democratic process.”
Rep. Kendon Underwood (District 16) focused on the systemic nature of Arkansas’ election security improvements, stressing the importance of early intervention to prevent fraud and ensure the credibility of the process. “Protecting the integrity of our elections starts long before ballots are cast,” Underwood noted. “By strengthening safeguards in the petition process and cracking down on fraud and abuse, we’ve sent a clear message: every step in our democratic process must be uncompromised and trustworthy. Arkansas now stands as the national leader in election integrity because the security of our elections is a responsibility we take seriously every day.”
The legislative measures that contributed to this impressive ranking include significant bills such as Act 240, Act 241, and Act 218. These acts focused on reinforcing protections around Arkansas’ ballot amendment process, making it more difficult for outside forces to manipulate the state’s constitution. Governor Sanders also signed Act 998 and Act 999, which specifically aim to protect Arkansas’ elections from foreign interference, preventing adversarial nations like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from influencing local and state elections or funding ballot measures.
Governor Sanders has also expressed her support for the Citizens Only Voting Amendment, which will be presented to voters during the next election cycle. This proposed amendment mandates that only U.S. citizens can vote in Arkansas elections, further solidifying the integrity of the state’s electoral system.
Arkansas earned perfect scores in several key areas that contribute to election integrity. These areas include Voter ID implementation, the access of election observers, citizenship verification, voter assistance identification, vote county practices, and restrictions on same-day registration and automatic registration. Furthermore, the state has placed strong limitations on the private funding of election officials or government agencies and banned ranked-choice voting, which is seen by some as a potential challenge to fair elections.
The #1 ranking in election integrity is a notable achievement for Arkansas, demonstrating the state’s commitment to securing the democratic process for all its residents. As the state continues to lead by example, officials are determined to maintain and protect this position by continually improving election security measures. With Governor Sanders and Secretary of State Jester at the helm, Arkansas stands as a model for other states seeking to bolster the trust and transparency of their elections.
In conclusion, Arkansas’ rise to the top spot for election integrity reflects the dedication of its leadership and the collective efforts of its lawmakers. The state’s focus on securing the electoral process while making voting accessible and transparent serves as a beacon for others across the nation to follow. As Arkansas celebrates this achievement, the work to maintain and improve its election integrity continues, with the shared goal of ensuring every citizen’s vote is counted and protected.
