WC vote 2006 change polling sites

Court to White County Election Commission: Put things back the way they were

By Warren Watkins

The Daily Citizen

The three members of the White County Election Commission appeared before the regular meeting of the White County Quorum Court Tuesday at the invitation of White County Judge Bob Parish. Changes to polling sites were at issue, leading to several emotionally-charged statements from citizens and justices of the peace.

Dianne Thomas, chairperson of the commission, with commissioners Norm Southerland and Charles Prier, stood before the court and a gallery of about 120 citizens in the second floor of the White County courthouse in Searcy.

“The board of commissioners is charged with conducting accurate and fair elections in the county in accordance with federal and state election laws,” Thomas said. “We are fortunate to have the help of our election coordinator John Nunnally and Tanya Burleson, our county clerk.

“Last fall, I discussed with you the impact of legislation on the voting systems in Arkansas, and White County in particular — that our punch card system and election procedures that we have used successfully for many years would be outlawed. Moreover, I indicated we would need to build a new election system from the ground up.”

Thomas said the implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2003 was a key driver to many of the changes to the election process. Many new requirements involve coordination with the state, causing frustration for the commission and for voters.

“For example, we went through at least three iterations just to place the order for the new voting machines and support equipment,” Thomas said. “Many of us were in training last week, and will be going back to Little Rock this week for more training. We have completely updated our database of election officials and will be training them over three Saturdays in April.”

In addition to the regular poll worker training, Thomas said the commission will provide additional technical training for selected individuals on the new computerized voting machines.

“As indicated, a reduction in the sheer number of voting locations within the county is one of several steps that we have undertaken as we restructure the election system,” Thomas said. “The county has used over 60 separate voting locations for several years. But now, the task to manage over 60 separate voting locations concurrently with implementation of a new way of conducting elections adds risks that are beyond reason at this time.”

Thomas said the commission regretted the inconvenience caused to some voters by having to travel longer distances on election day saying the commission’s actions were necessary to the overall election process in the county.

“There are two other options available to allow every citizen the opportunity to vote in every election,” Thomas said. “With absentee voting, a citizen can vote in the convenience and privacy of their home, and early voting can be combined with a shopping trip or other errand. Both options are readily available to anyone who cannot go to the polls on election day.”

Thomas said federal and state mandates require the commission to have the new systems implemented and in use in the primary election May 23rd.

“To date, we have yet to receive our new equipment and have not been able to implement many of the supporting procedures necessary for the change,” Thomas said. “This past week, members of the election commission and from your county clerk’s office attended the first training sessions that have been provided by the state. We now have to take what we have learned so far, and put it together to make sure we can conduct our elections here in the county.”

Making those changes involves testing and accepting the equipment, ordering the programming and ballot requirements and training election officials in how to conduct elections with new machines and procedures, Thomas said.

“It’s March 21, and the election is only a couple of months away,” Thomas said. “New requirements are coming to us from the secretary of state’s office almost daily. We’ve been fortunate here in the county that our election systems have been relatively simple for many years. That has changed.”

Changes are occurring all over the state and country, and there will be more changes in the future, Thomas said.

“During the May elections, we will learn a great deal, and we will use what we learn to correct and improve the system,” Thomas said. “We appreciate input and constructive comments. It’s important that these be given to us in writing so they are not forgotten during this busy and frustrating period. We ask for your patience and that you join in our vision for an exceptional election system.”

Justices of the peace questioned the three after Thomas’ remarks. Several expressed varying levels of disagreement with the decision to change polling sites within their districts. A resolution “instructing” the commission to rescind their decision was introduced.

Parish advised the court the resolution may be illegal, since the court has no authority over the commission. The non-binding resolution passed.

Eleven citizens accepted Parish’s invitation to speak after the court finished its agenda, including Mayor Carletta Pyle of Russell.

“Our town has about 280 registered voters,” Pyle said. “In our last general election, we had 68 people that voted in Russell and 10 in Worden. I can’t understand why they are taking a voting place out of a town that has a mayor and a council and moving it to a rural area.”

Several of her constituents have said they will not vote absentee or at another polling site.

“I have two housing projects, and I have elderly people in those,” Pyle said. “That’s their thing to do, is to go vote. If you take it somewhere else, they have to depend on other people. They’re taking their right to vote away.”