Bill to move up state's presidential primaries OK'd by Senate

A bill that would move up Arkansas' primary in presidential election years cleared the Arkansas Senate on Friday.

The Senate voted 20-5 to approve Senate Bill 389.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, would shift the state's primary in presidential election years from May to the first Tuesday in March.

The move would align Arkansas with several other Southern states in a so-called SEC Primary uniting some states with schools in the Southeast Conference.

Stubblefield previously said the measure was aimed at giving Arkansas a stronger voice in picking the presidential nominees, noting that it and other states "have always been an afterthought" because the May primary comes so late.

The Senate passed the measure without discussion, sending it the House for consideration.

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