2014 Watch
Voter-ID law struck down in Arkansas
The Arkansas Supreme Court has struck down the state's new Voter-ID law, a development that could potentially have an impact in a state that has a number of hard-fought elections this November.
The high court noted that the Arkansas Constitution lists specific requirements to vote: that a person be a citizen of both the U.S. and Arkansas, be at least 18 years old, and be lawfully registered. Anything beyond that amounts to a new requirement and is therefore unconstitutional, the court ruled.
"These four qualifications set forth in our state's constitution simply do not include any proof-of-identity requirement," the ruling said. [AP]
The law was passed last year by the Republican majorities in the state legislature, who then also overrode a veto of the bill by Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe.
Arkansas currently has a very contentious race for U.S. Senate, between incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and Republican Rep. Tom Cotton. There is also an open race for governor, between former Democratic Rep. Mike Ross and former Republican Rep. Asa Hutchinson.