Arkansas Rises to #1 in the Nation for Election Integrity

Arkansas now holds the top spot in the nation for election integrity, according to the latest Election Integrity Scorecard from the Heritage Foundation. The state jumped from 8th place earlier this year, following a legislative session focused heavily on bolstering election security under the leadership of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Governor Sanders, alongside Secretary of State Cole Jester and members of the Arkansas General Assembly, prioritized a series of reforms aimed at making elections more secure and transparent. Key legislative victories included measures to strengthen the ballot amendment process, prevent petition fraud, and block foreign influence in state and local ballot measures. The governor signed multiple acts—such as Act 240, Act 241, Act 218, Act 998, and Act 999—that addressed these issues directly.

The state earned perfect scores in several critical categories, including voter ID implementation, verification of citizenship, ballot counting procedures, and restrictions on same-day registration and private election funding.

Lawmakers celebrated the recognition, calling it a reflection of coordinated, conservative-led efforts to protect the democratic process. They also emphasized the importance of continuing to uphold and defend these standards in the future.

Arkansas is also preparing to vote on the Citizens Only Voting Amendment in the next election, a measure aimed at ensuring that only U.S. citizens can vote in state elections.

The ranking by the Heritage Foundation marks a significant milestone for Arkansas and positions it as a national leader in election security.