Article by Emily Wang, White River Now
The State Board of Election Commissioners recently sanctioned an Arkansas county over mistakes made while hand-counting ballots. On Nov. 5, voters in Independence County will decide whether to mandate the hand-counting of paper ballots in elections. If the ordinance is approved, the county will be required to conduct elections using hand-counted paper ballots.
Members of the Independence County Election Commission presented an inside look at the county’s election procedures at a recent Batesville Kiwanis meeting.
Election Commissioners Cathy Drew, Barbara Henson, Jennifer Emery, and Wendy Henderson provided insight into how ballots are prepared and counted, aiming to ensure transparency and accuracy using the DS200 tabulation system.
Cathy Drew, who works with the Independence County Election Commission, shared her extensive experience and described how the process has evolved from paper ballots to electronic voting machines.
“We’re all in this for the greater good of the community,” Drew said, noting the critical role of accuracy in elections.
Ballot Preparation and Proofing
Election preparation starts with the drawing and proofing of ballots. The county clerk, along with the deputy clerk, election commissioners and coordinators, and candidates who are on the ballot, oversee the process to ensure no mistakes are made on the ballot.
Machine Testing and Security
Before an election, all voting equipment, including tablets and tabulators, is tested with the election software to ensure proper functioning. Election officials run both electronic and hand-counted tests, and the results are reviewed for accuracy.
The machines are secured with tamper-evident seals and locks, and each voter’s status is updated in real time to prevent duplicate voting.
Election Day and Reporting
On Election Day, secured thumb drives are transported to the election office by a contact judge and one poll worker, who must then sign the items over to an election official at the central office for tabulation.
When asked about the security of using a thumb drive, a commissioner said, “When it comes in, it can’t be put into any other computer. It’s a unique thumb drive; it’s not compatible (to other computers).”
The results are then tabulated, and a paper copy is provided to media outlets and the county clerk’s office. All early votes, Election Day votes, and absentee ballots are tallied on election night. Final results are certified ten days later, after canvassing absentee and provisional ballots.
During the Kiwanis presentation, it was assured that undervotes are protected. An undervote is when a voter wants to vote on some issues but wishes to leave others blank. Noting an undervote bill properly documented on the ballot does not nullify the remainder of the ballot.
Audit and Accuracy
In the July 2024 Audit-Arkansas counties using electronic voting equipment, achieved 100% accuracy, ensuring confidence in the system. However, Drew pointed out that not all counties were as successful, citing Searcy County’s hand-counted ballots, which fell short of accuracy.
“Hand-counting ballots is not only time-consuming but prone to error,” Drew said. “That’s why we continue to rely on electronic machines for accurate results.”
As election security remains a topic of national discussion, Emery and other officials emphasized that Arkansas’ system is not connected to the internet during the voting process, a key factor in maintaining election integrity.
The meeting concluded with assurances from the election officials that the voting process in Independence County remains secure and transparent.
“We want this to be a completely open process,” Emery said. “We encourage anyone with questions to come and see for themselves.”
Anyone interested in viewing how things work during an election is invited to contact the Independence County Election Commission at 368 E. Main St. in Batesville.
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