Voting center sought at UA

County elections panel to consider students’ proposal

FAYETTEVILLE — Students at the University of Arkansas want an early voting center on campus, sophomore Ryann Alonso said.

“[ A voting site] is a common thing for state institutions to have,” Alonso said. “I’m not from the state of Arkansas, but Fayetteville is my home. I registered to vote my freshman year.”

Alonso is the Associated Student Government’s 2016- 17 co- chairman of external relations. She’s leading the renewed student effort to enable voting at the Student Union. The proposal would allow voters to cast ballots during the two- week period leading up to Election Day this November.

Washington County election commissioners heard about the idea Monday and plan to discuss details at coming meetings, commissioners said. Commissioner Renee Oelschlaeger, a Republican, said Monday that she isn’t convinced the university needs an early voting center.

“Our locations for other early voting places surround the university,” Oelschlaeger said.

The option should be considered, said Chairman Bill Ackerman, a Republican.

“Let’s make the right decision,” Ackerman said. “I feel like there’s some value there.”

The university has more than 27,000 students and faculty and staff, but it does not have a voting center on campus, Alonso said. Other institutions, including the smaller University of Central Arkansas, have voting sites on campus, she said.

The student association has offered to cover $ 1,300 for parking places for about six poll workers, Alonso said. Students also have reserved space in the Student Union for the center, Alonso said.

Last year, Washington County began using voting centers that allow residents to vote at any polling location instead of by precinct. The county centers are supposed to make voting easier, officials said.

Washington County has six early voting sites planned, which is fewer than similarly sized Benton County, said Commissioner Max Deitchler.

There’s room for another early voting location, Deitchler said. The main cost would be for poll workers, he said.