This week KTLO, Classic Hits and the Boot News had the opportunity to speak with Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester, who provided an overview of his office’s responsibilities, priorities and recent accomplishments.
During an interview, Jester offered insight into the wide-ranging duties of the Secretary of State’s Office, including maintaining the State Capitol building and ensuring its security, supporting elections, overseeing business filings, and promoting transparency through public records access.
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Jester shared his personal background, explaining his initial interest in law and religious liberty before joining Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ administration as a litigation advisor. In that role, he helped advance initiatives protecting children from online harms and restricting foreign ownership of Arkansas land.
Election security remains Jester’s top priority. He noted that under his leadership, Arkansas rose from eighth to first in national election security rankings for the first time in the state’s history.
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Jester defended the state’s photo ID requirement for voting, describing it as essential for election integrity.
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The Secretary discussed efforts to improve the state’s elections website to provide easier access to voter registration information and election results, holding state vendors accountable for quality and cost-effective service. In addition to election work, Jester emphasized the office’s role in supporting business filings and improving online public record access. He outlined efforts to post more municipal election filings and campaign finance records online, making it easier for Arkansans to see where candidates’ donations are coming from.
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The Secretary of State’s website can be reached at www.sos.arkansas.gov.
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