Monday voting

For the third time Wednesday, a Senate committee rejected a proposal to do away with early voting on Mondays in Arkansas.

Currently, early voters have until the Monday before election day to cast ballots. Senate Bill 485 by Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, aims to make the Saturday before the election the final day of early voting.

The committee heard testimony on both sides of the issue from members of the Pulaski County Election Commission. Kristi Stahr, the commission’s chairwoman, said the bill would provide a buffer to give election workers more time to process votes and avoid errors, while Joshua Price, another commissioner, said allowing early voting on Mondays hasn’t created any problems and taking it away would confuse voters.

SB485 failed on a voice vote. The committee’s vote was expunged, which means Hammer can bring SB485 before the panel again.