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Voting system to be ready by November election, official pledges Friday, Sep 8, 2006 By Betsy Turner Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Representatives from the company hired to institute electronic voting statewide under a $15.9 million contract told legislators Thursday that voting problems experienced during the May primaries would be corrected in time for the November general election. Mac Beeson, an Arkansas account service manager for Nebraska-based Election Systems and Software, said the company would meet each of the 19 solutions recommended by a North Carolina consultant for the Nov. 7 general election. Beeson testified before the House and Senate committees on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs as to steps the company has taken to solve voting problems. He said the firm would conduct additional training for poll workers and give counties revised time lines for submitting ballot information. "Together we can ensure every future election runs smoothly in Arkansas, and that is our overriding goal," Beeson said. Software glitches, late arriving equipment and other problems cause delays in tallying votes during the May primaries. Secretary of State Charlie Daniels ordered an independent investigation and a bipartisan group he impaneled to review ES&S performance approved recommendations to correct the problems. ES&S reorganized its leadership in Arkansas and bolstered its staff as part of its efforts to address the problems. Daniels said Thursday that his staff has been meeting weekly with ES&S staff to make sure the recommendations are being met. He said his staff has also received additional training to help assist counties in the elections. He also said the company reimbursed the state $388,000 and plans to provide additional training worth $350,000 for free. "We're making great strides today in fulfilling their obligation, working with them to fulfill their obligation in the state of Arkansas," Daniels said. "At this time we are pleased with the work they are doing." Also during the meeting, Daniels said he was working on draft legislation to introduce in the 2007 session which would allow for more time to cast absentee ballots. Tim Humphries, lawyer for the secretary of state's office, said the legislation would require ballots to be printed 45 days before the elections instead of the current 35 days. Humphries said moving up the deadline would lengthen turnaround time so military personnel overseas in remote areas could have a chance to cast their vote. He said the change would likely have a ripple effect and push up other election dates, such as ballot spot selections. Humphries said the Department of Defense, Justice Department and Federal Voting Assistance Program wrote a joint letter asking states to allow 45 days to return absentee ballots. |
