News & Commentary

See attached letter to Department of Justice asking for an investigation of the Hot Springs, AR shooting range that has declared itself a "Muslim Free Zone."  This is the second letter the ACLU has sent to the DOJ asking for an investigation.  According to two news reports, a Hindu father and son were questioned before being allowed to shoot because they were perceived to be Muslim.

Letter requesting immediate action by the Arkansas Secretary of State and the Arkansas State Board regarding illegally requiring voters to show ID. 

On October 15, 2014 the Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously declared the Voter ID Law unconstitutional. This information is designed to help you protect your right to vote and know what to expect for the upcoming election.

A great educational tool about Elections in Arkansas.

Know Your Rights: General information for voters and for voting rights advocates--a more detailed look at Arkansas voters' rights.

Please see document referenced below in the documents section.

September 9, 2014

Information designed to help you protect your right to vote. We recommend checking your voter registration at least 30 days prior to Election Day, voting early when possible, having your ID ready, asking for help if you need it, and reporting any problems or concerns.

"We are hopeful the case will be decided before the start of early voting, and before any more registered voters can be disenfranchised," said Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas.  "One more voter losing his or her vote is one too many."In April, the ACLU and the Arkansas Public Law Center (APLC) challenged the Arkansas Voter ID law in state court on behalf of four individual voters, asserting that the law added a new qualification to voting over and above the qualifications for voting set by the Arkansas Constitution (press release here).  We sought an order preventing the law from going into effect, and the judge agreed: he ruled that the Voter ID law violated voting rights as protected by the Arkansas Constitution.  The judge issued that order, but stayed his own ruling because a related case regarding absentee ballots was pending before the Arkansas Supreme Court and early voting was set to start for the primary within a few days.  The state immediately appealed the ruling in our case to that Court.  We are asking the judge in the lower court to lift the stay before the general election, and are fighting the appeal.  With the law in effect during May's primary elections, we saw over a thousand votes by registered voters invalidated due to the voter ID law. Get an educational brochure about the Voter ID Law here.