State awards Washington County $1.2 million in new election equipment

FAYETTEVILLE — The state has awarded Washington County about $1.2 million worth of election equipment, said Jennifer Price, election commission coordinator.

Commissioners will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the courthouse to approve a resolution to accept the equipment, Price said. The resolution will be presented to the Quorum Court at 6 p.m., Price said.

The Arkansas Secretary of State office approved Yell and Washington counties for the equipment, Price said. The approval is part of replacing aging equpment Arkansas counties and phasing-in new equipment, Price said.

Washington County’s equipment is from 2006 and was starting to break down, Price said. Election commissioners have said they were worried the state would not provide new equipment in time for Election Day, which is expected to see a huge turnout of voters.

Around January, the state awarded four other counties equipment in the lead up to the primary election. Last year, the Quorum Court set aside about $420,000 to match the state’s planned funding for Washington County.

The equipment for Washington County will come in time for the General Election, Price said. The equipment is expected to make voting easier for voters, Price said. The process also will be easier for poll workers, she said.

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