The State Board of Election Commissioners investigates complaints of alleged election misconduct and election law violations. Please use the form listed below to file an official complaint with the board.
Please note the details of the complaint. Be specific as to the nature of the alleged election irregularities or illegalities, indicate when and where the allegations occurred, provide supporting facts surrounding the allegations, and state your desired resolution.
For additional information see the Board’s Rules for Citizen Complaints Regarding Violations Of State Election And Voter Registration Laws and Rules For Help America Vote Act Administrative Complaint Procedure.
The State Board of Election Commissioners may not exercise jurisdiction, discretion or make findings of fact concerning the eligibility of candidates for office. That determination may only be made by a court of law.
In State ex rel. Robinson v. Craighead County Bd. of Election Com’rs, 779 S.W.2d 169, 300 Ark. 405 (Ark. 1989), the Arkansas Supreme Court held that the judicial branch has exclusive jurisdiction to hear candidate challenges through the filing of a Writ of Mandamus coupled with a request for a Declaratory Judgment in Circuit Court.
Arkansas Courts have consistently held that only a court of law can determine the eligibility of candidates when there is a dispute. Barrett v. Thurston, 2020 Ark. 36, 593 S.W.3d 1 (Ark. 2020).