Arkansas voter registration’s “Wet Signature” restriction is reinstated by a federal judge

Little Rock, Arkansas – In a ruling announced on Friday, the U.S. Eighth District Court of Appeals held that voter registration applications in Arkansas must have handwritten signatures.

In late August, U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks issued an injunction against the State Board of Commissioners’ “wet signature” regulation, stating that voters could electronically submit their signatures.

That ruling was overturned by the U.S. Eighth Circuit judgment, which once more mandated handwritten signatures on voter registration forms.

Become Loud Arkansas has filed a lawsuit contesting the wet signature rule.

The group released the following statement following Friday’s decision:

“Friday evening, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued an administrative stay of an August 29th preliminary injunction ordered by U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks, which acknowledged the undue burden that the State Board of Election Commissioners’ wet signature rule places on the people of Arkansas.
The administrative stay puts a temporary pause on the injunction, effectively reinstating the wet signature rule for voter registration purposes.
This rule creates an obstacle that risks disenfranchising eligible voters and disrupting the fundamental process of our elections.
The preliminary injunction recognized that this irreparable harm must be avoided. While the administrative stay poses a temporary barrier, Get Loud Arkansas assures all Arkansans that the fight is far from over.
To those who have registered to vote with digital signatures during the injunction period, your voice matters, and we are committed to ensuring that your registration will count.
We understand your concerns and urge you to remain steadfast as we navigate these legal challenges. Get Loud Arkansas will advocate for those registrations to be recognized and for your right to participate in upcoming elections to be protected.
The deadline to vote in the upcoming general election remains on October 7. Our online tool is still available to pre-fill a voter registration application without an electronic signature.
We encourage all eligible Arkansans to get registered, get informed, and get loud at the ballot box. Together, we will build a better future for Arkansas.”

Anyone can verify online that their name, address, and other details are accurate and that their registration is still in effect.

October 7 is the cutoff day for voter registration for the November election.