A lack of funding is delaying a state-wide effort to replace voting machines across Arkansas in time for the 2018 election cycle.
For the past two years Secretary of State Mark Martin has pushed for a new electronic voting system. But late last week counties learned they will have to share the cost with the state at a funding level that will be prohibitive in many cases.
Kelly Boyd, chief deputy to Secretary Martin, says the state-wide cost for the machines will run over $32M once the sales tax is included, a cost counties will also have to cover.
Boyd says the Secretary of State’s office has identified $1M towards the cost, and Governor Hutchinson has indicated he could direct another $5M. However, last week the Governor indicated he wants the $5M to be available on a 50-50 basis, leaving the counties to cover half of the cost.
Boyd says the system is known as a DS200 and has several components.
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Boyd says the system also includes a printer that comes with the poll book.
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In part two of our series, Boyd talks about the benefits to both voters and counties in upgrading to the new voting equipment and provides a break down of costs for counties in North Central Arkansas.
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