Rules on Poll Watchers, Vote Challenges, and Provisional Voting, 7 CAR pt. 91

The State Board amends the Rules on Poll Watchers, Vote Challenges, and Provisional Voting to include the actions that a poll watcher may and may not take while observing polling sites. This 2 Amendment includes the action a poll watcher may or may not do and defining the purpose of a poll watcher. With this amendment the rule expounds upon the specifics of what a Poll Watcher may do, such as: stand close enough to observe any and all election operations in the poll, move around the poll to observe the different operations of the poll, and challenge an ineligible voter. Additionally, this amendment outlines two specific places that a poll watcher may not be: (1) within six feet of any voter in the process of voting; and (2) be in a position from which the poll watcher can see how a voter is marking his or her ballot. Finally, this amendment outlines what the purpose of the poll watchers is to be. This purpose is detailed as establishing the poll watchers’ primary duty to observe the check-in process of voters and to challenge any inappropriate voter who is observed, states that the poll watchers are allowed to observe the entire operation of the poll and alert the poll supervisor and State Board of Election Commissioners regarding protentional violations of election procedures, and emphatically states that a poll watcher is not present to police the activity of poll workers.

There was no public hearing held for this rule. The public comment period expired on December 1, 2025. The board indicated it received no public comments. Isaac Linam, an attorney with the Bureau of Legislative Research, asked the following question: QUESTION: Your public notice says the “amendments reflect changes enacted during the 95th General Assembly”, but on the Questionnaire you indicate that the rules are not required based on any state statute. Are these changes the result of an Act or Acts from the 95th General Assembly? RESPONSE: The amendments were NOT based on acts of the 95th assembly.

• Rule packet: B.2.a SBEC Rules on Poll Watchers%2C Vote Challenges%2C and Provisional Voting
• ALC summary agenda Jan 15, 2026
• ALC agenda Jan 15, 2026
• ALC meeting video Jan 15, 2026
• Arkansas Register, February 2026