The first in a series of public meetings regarding changes in polling locations in Baxter County and the efforts to convert to vote centers is set for Thursday evening at 6:00 at the Cotter Community Center.
Election Commission Chairman Judy Garner says other public meetings are set for Friday morning at 10:00 and Monday afternoon at 2:00 in the second floor courtroom of the Baxter County Courthouse. The final hearing is scheduled for Thursday evening, August 30th at 6:00 at the courthouse.
At the July and August quorum court meetings, presentations were made to consolidate the current 22 polling sites into 10. The consolidation is part of the plan to implement vote centers. The reduction is also necessary with 10 of the current polling sites having to be changed following a recent inspection by a representative of the Arkansas secretary of state’s office, primarily due to ADA compliance issues.
While the number of polling locations would be reduced under the new plan if approved by the quorum court, voters would be able to cast their ballot at any vote center on election day, during 13 days of early voting at the courthouse or through an absentee ballot.
A spokesperson for the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news earlier this month 54 counties have adopted vote centers since authorization was given by the legislature in 2013. Consequently, 68.6 percent of registered voters are now utilizing the new integrated election equipment system.
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