FAYETTEVILLE -- Northwest Arkansas election commissioners plan to create a statewide committee to make sure commissioners have a say in related legislation, said Bill Ackerman, Washington County Election Commission chairman.
"We need to be proactive rather than reactive," Ackerman said. "If (lawmakers) know what our problems are, then they can help us with them."
Fast fact
The Northwest Arkansas County Boards of Election Commissioners is comprised of eight counties: Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Madison, Marion, Sebastian and Washington. Commissioners discussed Wednesday plans to create a new statewide group — including all 75 counties — that could voice concerns during the upcoming legislative session.
Source: Staff Report
Commissioners said Wednesday they hope to use the new committee to educate lawmakers about the election processes and needs. They also want to iron out conflicting or confusing language in laws, they said.
That includes solving problems stemming from a legislative change that allowed school districts to hold annual school elections with the general elections, said Jennifer Price, Washington County election coordinator. Some confusion includes whether retired substitute teachers can work general elections when school elections are also held and time frames for certifying votes, Price said.
On Wednesday, Northwest Arkansas commissioners and coordinators agreed to move forward to form the election group and line up concerns to be addressed at the next legislative session. The next meeting date will be Aug. 17, which will be when bills are addressed.
The session begins in January.
Ackerman already has met with some state officials about creating the group, he said during the Northwest Arkansas group meeting Wednesday.
The Northwest Arkansas group includes Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Madison, Marion, Sebastian and Washington counties. The new group would represent 75 counties, Ackerman said.
How many members will make up the new committee hasn't yet been decided. Ackerman said it will be inclusive.
"We want to include everyone in the election process in the 75 counties," Ackerman said.
Ackerman said Arkansas Secretary of State officials support the idea. However, the Arkansas County Election Commissions Association, a nonprofit group meant to represent election commissioners, hasn't adequately represented election commissioners, commissioners said Wednesday.
For example, the association's legislative subcommittee was formed but never met during the last legislative session, said Jennifer Price, Washington County Election Commission coordinator.
Mike Sevak, the association's president, didn't return a phone message left Wednesday afternoon. Sevak also is a Benton County election commissioner.
Scott Perkins, legislative and communications director for the Association of Arkansas Counties, attended the meeting Wednesday and said he thought the association would support working with the new group.
"I think there's a lot of room to work together on these issues," Perkins said.
NW News on 06/16/2016