Fulton County moves to implement vote centers

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Fulton County has joined a growing list of counties across the state moving to implement vote centers.

Areawide Media reports in a meeting in July the quorum court approved an ordinance to implement vote centers following a presentation from Fulton County Clerk Vicki Bishop.

Vote centers were approved by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2013 as an alternative to traditional, neighborhood-based precincts. The intent of vote centers is increased turnout through convenience for voters.

As Bishop explained to the court, “Vote centers will allow you to go vote at any one of the centers. If you live in Mammoth and are going to Mountain Home you can go to the Gepp Fire Station and vote. Any six of the vote centers you can go to and vote.”

Bishop also provided a list of the six polling locations — the Fulton County Fairgrounds; Viola First Baptist Church; Agnos/Glencoe Fire Department; Cherokee Village Omaha Center; Gepp Fire Station and Mammoth Spring Old Parts Store.

The Fulton County Clerk said, “I personally think it will be a good thing. We had 10 polling sites, one for each precinct. The precincts and boundaries will remain the same, you’ll just be able to go anywhere in the county and vote after this.”

Bishop explained once an individual had voted, the machine would keep track and would not allow for a second vote to be cast at a separate vote center.

Baxter, Boone and Marion counties were among some of the earliest counties adopting the new voting process. Boone was the first in the state, with Baxter and Marion County transitioning in 2018.

A spokesperson for the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office tells KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news about 30 counties have partially or completely moved to vote center models.

Plans for vote centers must meet the approval of the Secretary of State.

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