Former Pulaski County Clerk Employee Arrested for Switching 132 Voter Precincts

Deborah Smith, a former employee of the Pulaski County Clerk's office, has been arrested and charged with a felony for deliberately switching 132 voter registrations from North Little Rock to Maumelle ahead of the 2024 general election. The switch was discovered during a routine audit, leading to an investigation by the Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's Election Integrity Unit and the Prosecuting Attorney for the Sixth Judicial District. Smith surrendered after a warrant was issued, pleaded innocent to the charge of violation of voter eligibility, and was released on her own recognizance. The incident caused at least four voters to receive incorrect ballots and raised concerns about election security and voter trust. Secretary of State Cole Jester emphasized that election security is a priority and that changes have been made to restrict employee access to voter registration systems. The Attorney General's office continues to investigate the matter, stressing that swift and decisive justice is necessary to preserve the integrity of elections.