Polling perimeter

The House voted for a bill Tuesday that would prohibit anyone except voters from congregating within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling place.

The legislation, Senate Bill 486 by Rep. Karilyn Brown, R-Sherwood, passed 74-23 and was sent to Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

The bill was opposed by Democrats, who protested that it would prohibit non-electioneering aimed at encouraging people to remain in line to vote.

Rep. Vivian Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, said the NAACP did things in her area like hand out water to voters, which would be prohibited within the 100-foot zone under SB486.

“If you have people handing out sandwiches and water, how is that electioneering and what is the problem?” Flowers asked.

Brown responded, “If people want to hand out water they can stand beyond the 100 feet.”

The bill passed the Senate 27-7 last month.