On September 29, the Arkansas Supreme Court issued an opinion in Hamaker v Pulaski County Election Commission, 11-375. It reaffirms a 1904 decision from the same court, which said that if a voter wants to mark his or her ballot on a table at the polling location, in full view of anyone who happens to be standing nearby, the voter may do that. But if the voter wishes to vote in secret, he or she must be permitted to use a voting booth.

The plaintiff suggested that this policy pressures voters to vote in public view, because there aren’t enough voting booths, so a voter who wants secrecy must wait, whereas a voter who doesn’t care about secrecy need not wait. However, the Supreme Court refused to consider the part of the lawsuit that complained about the inadequate number of voting booths. The opinion is eight pages long and is unanimous.