In a surprising development, Marion County Election Commission officials have been advised state funding will cover the cost of over $211,000 in new election equipment for the county.Election Commission Chairman Elaine Ryder says the news came from the office of Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin following the recent approval of vote centers for Marion County.
Listen:
The Secretary of State’s Elections Division gave final approval to Marion County’s proposal for vote centers in March. The Arkansas General Assembly voted in 2013 to make the state the ninth in the U.S. to adopt permissive use of vote centers as an alternative to traditional, neighborhood-based precincts. Since then, 12 counties have implemented the new process, with Boone County being the first.
At the time the vote centers proposal was approved, Ryder said the new process will begin with early voting, which opens on Monday.
Listen:
Following word of the state funding for the election equipment, Ryder said this is a drastic improvement for poll workers and easier for voters casting their ballots.
Listen:
Training, onsite support on election day and set-up will also be provided with the new equipment.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI