This article is from April 9, 2026. See the update from April 28th, 2026 at www.mysaline.com/2026-elections-sos-lawsuit.
Update April 9, 2026, 5PM – MySaline reported about 1 p.m. on a lawsuit, but it is already a “case closed” status, since a Pulaski County judge made a ruling in one day. On Thursday, April 9, 2026 Clint Lancaster, the attorney for 2026 Secretary of State candidate Bryan Norris, filed a lawsuit, naming the Saline County Election Commission and Secretary of State opponent Kim Hammer. The judge had strong word for Mr. Lancaster. Read more below.
In an April 9, 2026 order, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Timothy Davis Fox dismissed Bryan Norris’ election lawsuit without prejudice, emphasizing that the court lacked jurisdiction due to clear statutory noncompliance, specifically that the complaint failed to include the required affidavit—only a verification—which the judge noted are legally distinct and mandatory under Arkansas law.
The judge stressed that election challenge statutes must be followed strictly, and because those requirements were not met, the court had no authority to hear the case; he further indicated the lawsuit would have failed on additional grounds anyway, including improper standing for a campaign committee and timing issues.
Judge Fox also underscored that election procedures are “extremely serious matters” requiring public confidence, and pointedly advised that counsel should carefully read and follow election laws in future filings, even suggesting additional legal education.
Read the entire ruling in the embedded file below, including the strong personal words on page 4, section 16.
2026 sos recount lawsuit case closed.pdf
Above, Lancaster in the baby blue shirt, gets loud while telling election officials that he wants to be right next to the poll workers as they count ballots. Video and more pictures below. 📷 Shelli Poole
Update April 9, 2026, 1pm – After a Saline County recount confirmed previous election results, Secretary of State candidate Bryan Norris followed through on his attorney’s threat to file a lawsuit alleging election law violations and seeking a new runoff.
A ballot recount – by hand – in Saline County has confirmed the original results in the Arkansas Secretary of State runoff race, but on the morning of April 9, candidate Bryan Norris filed a lawsuit challenging the election process.
On April 7, a crowd gathered in downtown Benton to watch election officials conduct a hand recount of ballots – requested and paid for by the Norris campaign. During the process, tensions briefly rose when Clint Lancaster, attorney and representative for Norris, objected to being required to stand in a designated viewing area rather than next to the poll workers counting ballots. He was ultimately directed to remain with other observers, including opponent Sen. Kim Hammer, who attended in person.
The recount confirmed the original totals, with Hammer receiving 4,474 votes (64.87%) and Norris receiving 2,423 votes (35.13%) in Saline County, matching the machine results. The Saline County Election Commission certified the results Thursday morning, April 9 at a meeting 11:00 a.m.
Statewide, the race was close. The March 31 runoff ended with Hammer leading Norris by fewer than 1,000 votes, prompting Norris to request recounts in six counties.
Over the past several days, each of the six counties – Baxter, Washington, White, Grant, Saline, and Miller – produced a hand-count that matched the March 31 machine count 100%.
A large part of Brian Norris’ campaign was advocacy for paper ballots as opposed to electronic voting.
Despite the consistent results, Norris has now taken legal action. According to a complaint filed April 9 in Pulaski County Circuit Court, Norris is contesting the election and alleging multiple violations of Arkansas election law.
In the filing, Norris claims his campaign representative, Clint Lancaster, was not allowed to properly observe the recount from within the legally required distance and was denied priority viewing.
The complaint also alleges issues with ballot handling and documentation, including claims that some ballot boxes were not properly sealed, required affidavits were missing, and at least one poll worker did not take the required oath before handling ballots.
The lawsuit names the Saline County Board of Election Commissioners and its members, along with Kim Hammer, as defendants. Norris is asking the court to declare the results of the runoff invalid and to order a new runoff election in Saline County.
The complaint further alleges that the issues identified during the recount are significant enough to make the results “tainted, untrustworthy, and unverifiable,” and claims the outcome of the election could be affected.
Hammer, following the recount, said the matching results across counties show the system is working properly and expressed confidence in the integrity of Arkansas elections.
The Saline County Clerk’s Office has addressed the allegations, stating the recount was conducted in full compliance with state law and that the process was transparent and properly observed.
As of now, the election results have not been overturned, and the case will proceed through the courts.
MySaline will continue to follow developments.
Update April 7, 2026
Local citizens and media gathered in downtown Benton on Tuesday to watch an election recount, but also witnessed one candidate’s representative get loud.
The Secretary of State’s race appears to be decided, but it’s not yet certified, and who knows what will happen next? This is already the public’s third round of waiting for the numbers to be revealed, and we aren’t even to the General Election yet.
Read more below.
As the recount began, Clint Lancaster, attorney for candidate Bryan Norris, was standing next to the election officials. He stated that he wanted to remain there, next to the people counting, but was told he needed to be on the other side of the red rope, with the other spectators. Lancaster became loud but eventually went to the side with others watching, including the other candidate, Senator Kim Hammer.
One candidate in the runoff, Senator Hammer, was there to observe, and the other candidate, Norris, sent his attorney, Lancaster. Norris is the one who filed for the recount and paid the $1,017 cost for it, citing a “razor-thin” voting result statewide. In accordance with Ark. Code § 7-5-319, the cost of the recount is based on the actual expenses incurred by the county. The total cost to conduct the recount in Saline County is $1,017. Because the recount confirmed the original results, state law requires that this cost be assessed to the candidate who requested it.
The initial Secretary of State race in the Republican Primary ended very close between the three candidates, then even closer in the runoff.
The statewide Primary Election March 3rd ended with:
- 91,629 votes for Bryan Norris, or 34.42%,
- 89,076 votes for Kim Hammer, or 33.46%, and
- 85,532 votes for Cathy Hardin Harrison, or 32.13%.
A runoff was necessary in the Arkansas Secretary of State race, since no candidate obtained a majority of the vote (50% plus one vote).
The statewide runoff election on March 31st ended with:
- 40,930 votes for Kim Hammer, or 50.57%, and
- 40,014 votes for Bryan Norris, or 49.43%.
The Bryan Norris Campaign filed for a recount. He chose six counties – Baxter, Grant, Washington, White, Saline, and Miller.
State and local officials and poll workers counted ballots by hand from 9:00 a.m. until nearly 1:00 p.m., on April 7th, to come up with a result that was the same as the machine count. During the recount process, some initial hand counts required additional review. Variations of this nature are common in any manual counting process. In those instances, poll workers conducted recounts of the ballots until the totals were fully reconciled, with all final counts matching the certified machine results—further reinforcing both the accuracy and efficiency of Saline County’s voting systems.
The Saline County runoff recount on April 7th ended with:
- 4,474 votes for Kim Hammer, or 64.87%, and
- 2,423 votes for Bryan Norris, or 35.13%.
As of today, all but Miller County have been recounted by hand, and each one matched the original county by machine. Norris is looking for nearly 1,000 votes statewide. The two candidates are separated by 401 votes in Miller County.
Senator Hammer issued a statement after the recount:
“Today, the hand count of paper ballots in Saline County was completed, and the results once again matched the original count exactly—continuing the consistency we’ve seen across every recount so far. We’re grateful to the election workers for their time, professionalism, and dedication to carrying out a fair and accurate process. With each recount producing the same outcome, it’s clear the system is functioning as intended—safely and securely. We hope our opponent will now accept the results and have confidence in the integrity of Arkansas elections. After the recount results were announced, attorney Clint Lancaster, who represents Norris, said his client would reject the results.”
Clint Lancaster, attorney for Bryan Norris issued this statement after the recount:
“Bryan Norris does not accept the results of the Saline County recount because Arkansas election laws were violated during the recount. Specifically, Bryan Norris’s attorney and designated representative was denied the ability to observe the recount as set forth in Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-603 because his designated representative was not allowed to observe the counting of ballots from a minimum distance of 3 feet from the poll workers as required by the statute. When an objection was lodged, Mr. Norris’s representative was not given priority viewing as required by the statute. In response to this objection, Saline County Clerk Doug Curtis locked Mr. Norris’s representative out of the viewing area. Additionally, a poll worker was found to be counting ballots without first taking the oath as required by Ark. Code Ann. § 7-1-103 and, though the candidate’s representative was not permitted to be within three feet to observe the counting of ballots, the executive director of the State Board of Election Commissioners handled voted ballots when he was not authorized to do so and without taking the required oath. Both examples are listed as criminal conduct in our election laws subjecting these people to the penalties of a Class A misdemeanor. Saline County has become an example of a dysfunctional voting system. It is unbelievable to see a Commissioner on the State Board and three members of the State Board’s staff present for a recount and not enforcing election laws. It is no wonder that voter turnout remains low as the “good ol boy” system appears to be alive and well in Saline County. The residents of Saline County deserve a county clerk who can run elections according to the law and in a transparent manner.”
The Saline County Clerk’s Office “strongly disagrees” with the claims from the Norris campaign, and they “maintain that the recount was conducted in full compliance with Arkansas law. The process was open, transparent, and observed throughout. All ballots were properly accounted for, and the final results matched the certified machine tabulation.”
Senator Hammer faces two more opponents in the General Election – Kelly Grappe, Democrat, and Michael Pakko, a Libertarian.
Those performing the recount were from the State Board of Election Commissioners, including Commissioner Jamie Clemmer, Director Chris Madison, Election Administration Supervisor Charles Morris, and Educational Services Manager Jon Davidson; along with Saline County Election Commission Chair Robert Scott, Commissioner Claudette Zuber, Commissioner Tamme Adams; Saline County Election Coordinator Allison Cain, and several poll workers.
Return to the main page for 2026 Election info at www.mysaline.com/2026-elections.
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