BENTONVILLE — Even though there are no contested races, there will be ballots printed and polling places manned and ready for the Sept. 21 election for three seats on the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees.
Candidates filed for two of the three board positions up for election this year. Randy Lawson filed for the Position 5 seat and Richard Clifford filed for the Position 6 seat.
Hadley Hindmarsh was appointed to the Position 4 seat on the board in May, but did not file for the post. Benton County Election Commissioner Bill Williams said it is likely the governor will have to fill that seat by appointment again.
The Election Commission was told Wednesday the community college election will require three polling places with four poll workers at each site. There will also be two distinct ballots printed, one for voters in Rogers and one for voters in Bentonville. The commission agreed to print a total of 100 ballots for the college election.
Williams said higher education elections are governed by a different state law than the statute that covers regular school elections.
For regular school elections, if there’s no change in millage and no contested races, the county doesn’t have to provide election-day voting, Williams said. Those elections are decided by absentee and early voting tallies, he said.
Under the laws governing institutions of higher education, the community college election has to include the option of election day voting, Williams said.
“We need to have a change in that statute, because it’s pointless,” Williams said. “It will also save the state some money.”
Also Wednesday, the Election Commission conducted the ballot position draw for three contested school board races.
In the race for the Position 6 seat on the Bentonville School Board, Matt Zachary drew the first position on the ballot. Misty Inslo will be listed second and Bryan S. Vernetti will be listed third.
In the race for the Zone 5 seat on the Decatur School Board, Gracia Harrington will be listed first and Ikie L. Owens will be listed second.
In the race for the Position 5 seat on the Pea Ridge School Board, Dorothy Faye Keller will be listed first and Ann Cato will be listed second.