Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County getting new voting machinery

Nevada County will be getting new voting machines for future elections.

Kim Gardner, with the Arkansas Secretary of States Office, spoke to the Nevada County Quorum Court Monday, Jan. 9, saying the machines are part of the Help Americans Vote Act, a federal mandate to update voting equipment nationwide.

All counties in the state, she said, will decide how they want to utilize the equipment. The vendor selected to furnish the machines is ES&S Equipment of Omaha, Neb. This will also mean the county will have a new voter registration database.

According to Gardner, there are 13 counties in Arkansas using punch card machines, with nine still using paper ballots. This will no longer be legal, she said, and all are required to upgrade to new equipment.

With the exception of absentee ballots, Nevada County doesnt use paper ballots, she said, and this is all right.

As to the new machines, Gardner said the state will furnish one piece for each polling location, while all counties have money allocated for extra equipment. For Nevada County, the equipment will be furnished at no cost. Additionally, the state will purchase the software and computers, while ES&S will provide training to election officials so the equipment can be used properly.

Gardner said this is a federal mandate stemming from the 2000 election fiasco in Florida, and the infamous hanging chad situation. The machines, she added, must be used in all state and federal elections, but dont have to be utilized for local elections, such as for the school boards. But, she encouraged them to be used in local elections to help get everyone used to using them.

Nevada County, she said, is part of a region, and there will be a regional meeting on this in March when the first shipment of equipment is scheduled to arrive. However, the equipment and training wont be fully operational in Nevada County for the May Preferential Primary, so the county will hold the election using its current equipment.

But, Gardner said, everything will be in place for the November General Election and the new equipment must be used at this time.

She suggested using a dual system in May, with the new equipment and existing equipment both being used. This, Gardner said, will give election workers some hands-on experience with the new system.

She pointed out the county will also have to have a unit for the visually and physically impaired.

The Court passed a resolution approving the use of the new election machinery.