FAYETTEVILLE -- Election coordinators and commissioners from 11 counties informally voted Wednesday to ask the state to pay for new election equipment before consolidating school board elections with the statewide primary election.
"Ninety percent of problems (commissioners have) will be solved if we get new equipment across the state," said Keith Rutledge, director of the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners.
Regional Meeting Attendees
Officials from 11 counties attended the County Boards of Election Commissioners Regional Meeting on Wednesday. Those counties are: Benton, Washington, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Logan, Madison, Marion, Pope, Scott and Sebastian.
More than 35 county and state election officials participated in the County Boards of Election Commissioners Regional Meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was held to explain new election laws and give commissioners a chance to voice concerns.
Commissioners said some laws passed in the most recent legislative session create obstacles, especially with aging voting equipment.
For example, voters casting ballots in city special-elections during a primary run-off would need to check-in twice to vote, said Jennifer Price, executive director of the Washington County Election Commission. Voters would end up standing in two voting lines and casting on several ballots -- depending on their precincts and election dates, she said.
Some counties also have multiple school districts and school districts that cross into other counties, creating logistical concerns, Price said. Washington County has eight school districts, two of which cross into Benton County.
Counties without new equipment also will struggle to program voting equipment and make sure each voter gets the correct ballots, commissioners said. New equipment has bar-coding to help pull up the correct ballots more quickly and easily, Price said.
Only about 11 counties, including Washington County, have received money for new equipment. Only three counties at the meeting Wednesday have new voting equipment, Price said.
Arkansas has 75 counties.
The Legislature passed Act 151 of 2015 allowing the secretary of state to replace election equipment up to about $30 million, but no money was set aside to pay for it. The governor hasn't agreed to pay the request this year, said Bill Ackerman, Washington County Election Commission chairman.
Rep. Bob Ballinger, a Republican, said he plans to ask Gov. Asa Hutchinson for support in paying for the other counties' equipment this year.
"You guys are in a mess," said Ballinger, who represents parts of Washington, Carroll and Madison counties.
Rep. Ron McNair, a Republican representing part of Boone and Carroll counties also attended Wednesday.
The state legislature plans a special session later this year, but the governor must agree to add any item considered. Adding a mandate for money is likely to be controversial, Ballinger said. The sponsor also must agree to change the bill to add language implementing the law after all counties get new voting equipment, he said.
Commissioners need support from a variety of organizations to get the money, Ballinger said. That could include asking school districts for help, Rutledge said.
Other issues commissioners brought up during the meeting included money for primary elections when school elections are involved and changes brought about by a new voter identification law. The new law require voters provide identification or sign an affidavit and vote on a provisional ballot, Price said.
The voter-identification law has been in flux for years and may cause some confusion among poll workers and voters in upcoming elections, commissioners said.
NW News on 04/20/2017