VOTING MACHINE DEMONSTRATION
Craig Siebert with Election Systems & Software demonstrates the ExpressVote voting machine to county judges, election officials and county clerks of Southwest Arkansas on Tuesday at the Miller County Courthouse in Texarkana. County officials are looking into getting new voting equipment.
County officials were encouraged Tuesday to ask their legislators to pay the costs of purchasing new voting equipment instead of the counties footing the bill.
The costs to provide new voting equipment are expected to be about $30 million for 75 counties in Arkansas, said Craig Siebert, a regional sales manager for Election Systems & Software.
“Contact your legislators again, again and again about the state paying for the new equipment,” Miller County Election Commission Coordinator Linda Crawford said.
If the state doesn’t pay for the new equipment, the counties will be responsible for the funds, Siebert said.
Jerry Amick, account manager for Election Systems & Software and Siebert demonstrated the new voting equipment to county judges, Quorum Court members, election officials and county clerks in Southwest Arkansas.
Little River County Judge Mike
Cranford questioned the state’s ability to pay for the equipment.
“It doesn’t add up. I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but the governor is saying he intends to cut the budget $50 million,” Cranford said.
The federal government provided each state funds for voting equipment in 2006 to fulfill the Help America Vote Act, which was passed by Congress in 2002. Arkansas also passed laws requiring a verified paper trail audit for each ballot cast.
The Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office selected Election Systems & Software as its vendor for the voting equipment.
“Every Arkansas county was given equipment options. Miller County chose the Ivotronic touchscreen voting machine, which complied with federal law. These machines were first used in 2007 and have a life span of eight to nine years. Miller County still uses this equipment,” said Brandon Cogburn, chairman of the Miller County Election Commission.
In 2015, Arkansas again chose Election Systems & Software to replace its existing voting equipment, and 12 Arkansas counties have received new voting equipment.
Funding for the remaining 63 counties is expected to pass during the current General Assembly. Miller County election officials have requested assistance from the governor, secretary of state, and all members of the General Assembly to fund new voting equipment for Miller County as well as the other unfunded Arkansas counties.