Groups push for hand counting ballots across Arkansas

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

In Arkansas, machines count votes. But, there’s been a recent statewide push to count votes by hand for each election.

Col. Conrad Reynolds thinks Arkansas voting machines could be flipping votes.

“I believe 100% that we have no way of knowing, the way our current system is, whether our vote counted or not,” he said.

He doesn't know exactly why or exactly how. He doesn't even blame local election officials, but he is suspicious of ES&S, the company that makes the machines. He also thinks voting machines could explain why more members of the far-right Freedom Caucus are not in elected positions in Arkansas.

Groups push for hand counting ballots across Arkansas

Voting Machine - Flickr Image

Arkansas election board to sanction county officials over issues with hand-counted ballots

KUAR | By Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The State Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday voted to sanction election officials in one Arkansas county where several hand-counted ballot mistakes occurred during the primary election.

Commissioners did not explicitly state which county’s board of election commissioners would receive the sanctions; however, only officials in Searcy County hand-counted ballots in March.

The investigation into the county that hand-counted ballots was among six that the SBEC considered at its meeting, all of which were discussed with some confidentiality. Reports remain private until 30 days after county officials accept the sanction, or deny it and prompt a public hearing.

Arkansas election board to sanction county officials over issues with hand-counted ballots

Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate

Chris Madison, director of the State Board of Election Commissioners, leads a meeting in Little Rock on July 15, 2024.

Arkansas Senate committee OKs bill to regulate paper ballots and hand counts

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

A group of state senators on Thursday voted to require Arkansas counties that opt to hand count election returns to first run ballots through vote-counting machines.

Senate Bill 250 sponsor Rep. Kim Hammer (R-Benton) and state election officials said the legislation would ensure that preliminary, unofficial election results are reported quickly.

Counties would still have the flexibility to conduct official counts by hand.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-02-24/arkansas-senate-committee-oks-bill-to-regulate-paper-ballots-and-hand-counts

Wong Maye-E/AP

Workers sort absentee ballots in Kenosha, Wis.