Republican rule to block Democratic crossover votes starts this primary season

A rule passed by the Republican Party of Arkansas’ state committee last June prohibits registered Democrats from voting in this year’s March 3 Republican primaries. But voters can change their affiliation to Republican, optional, or another party prior to the election or even at the polls.

The change came as a result of a vote at the RPA’s state committee meeting in Little Rock. It states that “Qualified electors shall NOT be a registered Democrat before being issued a Republican primary ballot to vote in a Republican party primary election.” The same prohibition does not apply to members of other parties.

The rule represents a change from Arkansas’ traditional status as an “open primary” state. Until this election, any voter could freely choose to vote in either party’s primary, or they could vote in a nonpartisan election featuring only judicial and other nonpartisan officials.

Democrats do not have a similar rule prohibiting registered Republicans from voting in their primary.

Voters can change their party affiliation at any point before the election by contacting their local county clerk, or they can do so when they arrive at the polls. Arkansans are not required to choose a party when they register to vote. Nearly 87% of the state’s voters are listed as “optional.”

Amanda Dickens, Pulaski County election coordinator, said the county is training 800 poll workers on the new rule, and there will be signage posted at the table where voters check in. When a voter checks in, a Microsoft tablet poll book will list their party affiliation and automatically prevent Democratic voters from receiving a Republican ballot. However, the voter could then change their affiliation on the spot to Republican, optional or another party.

“They’ll put them in,” said Leslie Bellamy, elections coordinator with the secretary of state’s office. “They’ll update that information, push it to the poll book live, and they’ll be able to get a ballot, a regular ballot, like everyone else.”

Such poll books are used by county clerks in all 75 counties, Bellamy said.

Faulkner County Clerk Margaret Darter, president of the Arkansas Association of County Clerks, said a voter who wants to change their affiliation can do so in five to 10 minutes.

In Faulkner County, the voter would complete a new voter registration form or a change of address form. She said she does not have a special form for last-minute party-switchers. She noted that county clerks often change voters’ home addresses at the polls and that Faulkner County is ready for the rule change.

She said the process “creates a little more work on our side, but I’d rather that happen than them walk away not getting to vote the ballot they want to vote.”

Belamy said voters can cast a provisional ballot if a power outage or internet interruption prevents them from updating their affiliation at the polls.

For absentee ballot requests, the system is supposed to flag a registered Democrat who seeks a Republican ballot, Bellamy said. The county clerk is then supposed to try to contact the voter to inform them of the need to change their affiliation.

Darter said Faulkner County is composed of 4,269 Republicans, 2,280 affiliated Democrats, 28 Libertarians, and four Green Party members. The overwhelming majority of voters — 70,248 — are listed as “optional.” She does not expect a huge volume of party switchers. Registered Democrats have chosen their party with which they identify, she said.

“I don’t anticipate this being a major problem,” she said. “It may be one or two people, and maybe up to 10. There may not be any, because if you’ve told me your affiliation is Democrat, then you’re pretty solid that you’re a Democrat.”

This year, Democrats have competitive primaries in several races, including governor, U.S. Senate, and in the 2nd and 4th Congressional District races. Dickens agreed, saying the majority of Pulaski County voters vote in the Democratic primary.

“I don’t see that that’s going to be a huge deal in Pulaski County, but if it does become an issue, we will address it,” she said.

Voters who vote in one party’s primary cannot vote in the other party’s runoff.