Red State Leads Heritage Foundation’s Annual Scorecard as Nation’s Strongest in Election Integrity: "Hard to Cheat"

The Heritage Foundation has unveiled its latest annual Election Integrity Scorecard, and this year Arkansas has emerged at the top, earning the distinction as the state with the strongest election integrity measures in the nation. The state, under the leadership of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, climbed from eighth place last year to secure the number one spot, according to the comprehensive review.

The scorecard evaluates states using a variety of criteria, such as voter ID implementation, accuracy of voter registration lists, management of absentee ballots, and verification of citizenship, among other safeguards. The enhancements made in Arkansas’ electoral process include the passage of new legislation—namely Act 240, Act 241, and 218—which were designed to bolster protections around the ballot amendment process and shield the state’s constitution from undue influence and potential fraud.

Governor Sanders emphasized her administration’s commitment to trustworthy elections, stating, My goal this session was simple: make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. She added that recent reforms have made Arkansas’ ballot boxes “the safest and most secure in America” while ending petition fraud and strengthening the state’s constitutional protections. Secretary of State Cole Jester echoed these sentiments, underscoring the deployment of advanced procedures and technology to uphold election security. “As Secretary of State, I have said from day one we would have the most secure elections in the country,” Jester remarked, attributing the success to collaboration between lawmakers and election officials across Arkansas.

Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, commended Arkansas for its achievements and suggested, States across the country should follow Arkansas' lead by implementing these critical election reforms that make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. Snead’s organization has advocated for a series of reforms nationally, emphasizing the importance of robust voter ID laws, updated voter rolls, and restrictions on foreign involvement in election processes.

According to the Scorecard, the top ten states are exclusively Republican-led, with Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Oklahoma joining Arkansas at the forefront. On the opposite end of the spectrum, states including Oregon, Vermont, California, and Hawaii received the lowest rankings in terms of election security.

Recent legislative sessions in Arkansas have not only addressed the technical aspects of election administration but have also introduced measures to prevent foreign entities from funding state and local ballot initiatives. These efforts, officials argue, are crucial for maintaining public trust and safeguarding the democratic process.

As state legislatures convene for new sessions, advocates like Snead insist there remains a responsibility to enact reforms that reflect the will of voters and protect the integrity of American elections. Lawmakers have a duty to fulfill the mandate the American people gave to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat, Snead asserted, highlighting the ongoing debate over how best to balance access and security at the ballot box.