HB1706 bans the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Arkansas elections. The law defines ranked-choice voting as a system that allows voters to rank candidates by preference and counts votes in multiple rounds until one candidate achieves a majority. Under this act, no local, state, or federal election in Arkansas may use this method, and any local ordinances permitting it are declared void.
The Arkansas State Senate passed HB1706 on April 14, 2025 by a vote of 28 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because RCV undermines election integrity and the electorate’s ability to choose the best candidate. By design, RCV favors moderate-to-leftist candidates who often fail to uphold the Constitution. This complex, multi-round system can result in winners who lack true plurality support, and imposes ballot-marking requirements that may pressure voters to act against their conscience. States should firmly reject all attempts to implement this unconstitutional voting method.
