FAYETTEVILLE — Several changes in election rules will confront Washington County’s hundreds of poll workers next year, but the necessary training to meet those challenges will cost little, election officials said Friday.
The Election Commission convened for its final meeting this year to discuss next year’s needs, including preparing for May primaries and November’s general election.
The recurring theme is training 400 workers about the array of new laws and technologies introduced to local elections. A state voter identification law, electronic poll books and rule changes for absentee ballots are all part of the mix.
Training could cost about $10,000, said Jennifer Price, election coordinator. That’s a small fraction of a $520,000 budget next year, and most of it will be reimbursed by the state, she said.
Poll workers will be asking voters for photo identification such as an Arkansas driver’s license or university student card. Poll workers will need to know what’s acceptable — as will voters.
“It’s very tricky,” Price said. “University students who are registered to vote here, but still have a driver’s license from Texas or Oklahoma or wherever, will not be able to use their licenses.”
Next year’s elections will be the largest elections for the 120 electronic poll books the county bought this year. Workers plan to use the tablets to quickly look up voters when they arrive at the poll.
Two other counties had difficulties with the devices, Price said. Washington County, the largest county that uses them, fared well in the smaller school elections and a city election, she said.
“Most of our poll workers are older — not as old as I am, but older,” said Pete Loris, a commissioner. “They’re not too comfortable with them.”
Finally, new state regulations will change how absentee ballots are verified, which could mean counting takes longer, Price said.