The Arkansas Supreme Court says voters are not required to vote in private booths if they want to vote in public — but said election officials can’t force them to vote in a public area.
Justices on Thursday upheld a Pulaski County judge’s order that barred election officials from directing voters to a “community table” rather than a voting booth. The ruling came in a lawsuit by Keith Hamaker of Little Rock after he voted at a site in 2008 where people were marking their ballots at tables set up in front of the booths.
Hamaker appealed the ruling — saying the commission has no right to even allow voting in an area not defined by law. Justices said voters can mark their ballots outside the booth if they choose.