Vote Centers for Arkansas Under Consideration
By:
Updated: December 7, 2012
Some Arkansas county election commissioners are looking to vote centers as a way eliminating confusion at polling places but that concept could mean fewer places for voters to cast their ballot.
Here's how it works: Instead of going to a specific polling place, any registered voter could go to any established vote center in their county to cast their ballot, including during early voting periods.
Indiana and Colorado have laws on their books allowing counties to establish vote centers based on the number of active voters in each county.
In the Hoosier state, the law requires counties to set up one vote center per 10,000 active voters and 1 center for any fraction of active voters less than 10,000.
If that law were to apply to Garland County, Arkansas, since 40,946 voters cast their ballots in the November election, the county would have five vote centers.
Susan Inman, President of the Arkansas County Election Commissions Association, says vote centers are gaining moment in other states.
"I think it's a great idea," Inman said, adding the association is in the very early stages of coming up with a bill.
Gene Shelby, who chairs the state Democrat Central Committee, is concerned this yet-to-be defined proposal could eliminate polling places.
"I wouldn't support anything that is going reduce access for voters to be able to vote," Shelby said.
Garland County during this past election struggled with redistricting and had issues when it came to printing ballots, Shelby said, adding he's not convinced other proposed bills aimed at fixing problems at polling places will be the solution.
Here's how it works: Instead of going to a specific polling place, any registered voter could go to any established vote center in their county to cast their ballot, including during early voting periods.
Indiana and Colorado have laws on their books allowing counties to establish vote centers based on the number of active voters in each county.
In the Hoosier state, the law requires counties to set up one vote center per 10,000 active voters and 1 center for any fraction of active voters less than 10,000.
If that law were to apply to Garland County, Arkansas, since 40,946 voters cast their ballots in the November election, the county would have five vote centers.
Susan Inman, President of the Arkansas County Election Commissions Association, says vote centers are gaining moment in other states.
"I think it's a great idea," Inman said, adding the association is in the very early stages of coming up with a bill.
Gene Shelby, who chairs the state Democrat Central Committee, is concerned this yet-to-be defined proposal could eliminate polling places.
"I wouldn't support anything that is going reduce access for voters to be able to vote," Shelby said.
Garland County during this past election struggled with redistricting and had issues when it came to printing ballots, Shelby said, adding he's not convinced other proposed bills aimed at fixing problems at polling places will be the solution.
