Two items of business on the Baxter County Quorum Court’s agenda for the past two months are up for their third reading and possible passage when the justices meet Tuesday evening at 6:00, including one dominating discussion at the August meeting.
An ordinance establishing vote centers beginning with the November general election will be considered, after a lengthy discussion last month, as well as an ordinance to amend the minimum standards and regulations for land development.
Vote centers allow registered voters in a county to cast their ballot at any polling site. They are a county-wide version of early voting held at the Baxter County Courthouse.
At the August meeting, the justices heard from members of the audience who expressed concerns about the move to vote centers. While not necessarily opposed to the measure, concern was expressed for the limited amount of time to implement the new system by the November general election and accommodating elderly voters. It was also noted some will oppose the new system only because they have always voted at the same location.
Election Commission Chairman Judy Garner told the court the plan is to consolidate the current 22 polling sites into 10, saying it was the route to take as the county moves toward the implementation of vote centers. In addition, Garner said regardless of moving to vote centers, 10 of the current polling sites will have to be changed following a recent inspection by a representative of the Arkansas secretary of state’s office, primarily due to ADA compliance issues.
Baxter County and Circuit Clerk Canda Reese also stressed while the number of polling locations would be reduced under the new plan, 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.
At the August meeting, the call for public hearings was a common theme. Since then, four public hearings have been held, one in Cotter and three in the Baxter County Courthouse.
The final hearing last Thursday evening drew about a dozen citizens, more than the combined attendance at the prior three sessions, according to Reese.
With their questions addressed by the three-member election commission and Reese, the meeting ended after about 35 minutes, with assurances provided in response to the concerns raised.
Reese said her office will be mailing notices to all registered voters impacted by the polling location changes and will utilize every avenue possible, including media notifications, to spread the word.
She noted both the courthouse and Christ Community Church will serve as early voting locations. In addition, by utilizing the vote center plan, for the very first time the courthouse will serve as a polling location on election day.
Reese said in the past, voters often came to the courthouse on election day and have had to be directed to their polling location. Serving as a vote center will eliminate what has been a confusing situation.
The quorum court’s September meeting will be held in the second floor courtroom of the Baxter County Courthouse.
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