FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Election Commission will ask the county for money to add early voting sites, the commissioners decided Friday.
The commission's three members approved seven early voting locations, up from two in the 2012 general election. The two cost about $20,000 to operate. The panel will ask the Quorum Court next month for $43,000 more to open the additional sites.
Meeting Information
Washington County Finance And Budget Committee
When: 5:30 p.m. Aug. 12
Where: Quorum Courtroom, Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College Ave.
On the Agenda: Request to increase early voting sites from two to seven
Early voting for the Nov. 4 election begins Oct. 20. More than a third of voters cast early ballots in 2012, according to the commission.
The county courthouse in downtown Fayetteville and the Rodeo Community Center in eastern Springdale will remain early voting sites.
The proposal would add a polling place at Arvest Ballpark in western Springdale and another near Prairie Grove City Hall. Three additional sites would be in Fayetteville: the county fairgrounds on the northwest side of the city; the Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club on the southwest side; and the Medical Arts Pharmacy at the intersection of Huntsville and Crossover roads in the southeast corner of town.
The commission in recent weeks considered bumping early sites up to six, not seven, with the sixth a choice between the club and the fairgrounds. But both sites should be convenient, secure and popular, Jennifer Price, election coordinator, said during Friday's commission meeting. The panel agreed.
"It's not going to be easy, but it's a prelude to what's ahead," said Renee Oelschlaeger, the panel's single Republican, referring to the federal midterm election's typically lower turnout. The 2016 election will include the president, meaning even more voters are expected to turn up early.
Throughout the discussion on sites, chairman Pete Loris' primary concern was rural voters. The commission has to help everyone, he often said, not just the two main cities.
Loris said Friday he was satisfied with the Prairie Grove location. The ballpark will be handy for Tontitown voters, he added.
Price will take the proposal to the Budget Committee, which meets Aug. 12. She might face some skepticism from the financially cautious court, said Candy Clark, committee chairwoman.
"I'm concerned about the level of the reserves," Clark said, referring to general reserve money that has decreased this year from $7.4 million to $5.5 million. "But at the same time, I'm concerned about giving every citizen in the county an easier way to vote."
Spreading voting sites toward the county's corners was "critical," Clark said.
"We'll have to see what they're looking at," she added. "The more we can get people to vote and the easier we can make it to do that, the higher turnout we'll get. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
NW News on 07/26/2014