JPs talk new voting gear, ponder new courthouse
Miller County Judge Roy John McNatt has signed a contract for new voting equipment with the state vendor, Election Systems and Software (ES&S) of Omaha, Neb., said Miller County Election Coordinator Linda Crawford during the Quorum Court meeting Monday.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Crawford said.
“The Quorum Court has been working for the past several months to secure the county’s portion of funding in the event the Secretary of State’s office had additional funding available. In April 2017, the Secretary of State’s office sent a letter to each of the 63 counties who did not have new voting equipment. The letter stated that limited funds were available to counties on a 50 percent partnership with the Secretary of State paying 50 percent and each county contributing the remaining 50 percent,” said Crawford.
“Because of the foresight of the Quorum Court and the county judge, Miller County was able to immediately send a return letter to the Secretary of State confirming Miller County’s 50 percent share of the funding was in place. The total cost of new voting equipment for the 13 poll locations, early voting at the courthouse, and the new system for election night reporting is approximately $400,000,” she said.
The new machines will be used during the 2017 school elections.
The equipment will arrive in about 200 boxes which will be unloaded, assembled, tested, and stored with the assistance of ES&S.
ES&S will then spend three days training all election officials on the use of the new machines, Crawford said.
“In 2002, Congress passed a Help American Vote Act; all states were mandated to implement voting systems by 2006, and the federal government funded 95 percent if the costs to all States. Arkansas chose ES&S as the vendor; our Ivotronic voting machines had a life span of 9-10 years. This system has served us well until recently when various equipment parts began to present problems. In 2015, the Arkansas General Assembly appropriated $30 million for the new voting equipment; however, that appropriation was not funded, said Crawford..
In May of 2016, Miller County Election Officials began an effort on behalf of all of the 63 Counties who did not have new voting equipment. State Senators Jimmy Hickey, Larry Teague; Representatives Carol Dalby, DeAnn Vaught, and Lane Jean and legislators in Southwest Arkansas supported the effort to fund everyone during the 2017 Legislative Session, Crawford said.
“Miller County Election Commission Chairman Brandon Cogburn, along with four other election commissions from across the state testified about the funding needs before an election subcommittee. Near the end of the session, a committee vote to keep the funding effort alive, failed by one vote,” said Crawford.
At the request of the State Board of Election Commissioners, Miller County has been asked to host and lead semi-annual meetings for 14 Southwest Arkansas Counties. The purpose of these sessions will be to keep our area informed of changes in state laws, upcoming legislation, and to provide feedback to our legislators concerning legislation that may have a positive or negative effect on elections. The first meeting was held May 23 at Hempstead Hall in Hope.
The Quorum Court also discussed the idea of constructing a new courthouse.
The justices of the peace voted to have McNatt to appoint a committee to study the possibility of building a new courthouse possibly near the existing Miller County jail.
Justice of the Peace Earnest Pender made the suggestion during the Monday meeting.
“We could have the potential of some serious savings with a new courthouse,” Pender said.
The committee will consider what is needed within a new courthouse, cost savings and how the building would be financed.
No timetable was discussed when the committee would be appointed.