§ 7-5-301 — Acquisition, use, and cost of voting systems

(a) The casting and counting of votes in all elections shall be by: (1) Voting machines selected by the Secretary of State; (2) Electronic vote tabulating devices in combination with voting machines accessible to voters with disabilities to be selected by the Secretary of State; or (3) Paper ballots counted by hand in combination with voting machines accessible to voters with disabilities selected by the Secretary of State. (b) All direct recording electronic voting machines shall include a voter-verified paper audit trail. (c) (1) The quorum court of each county shall choose by resolution a voting system containing voting machines or electronic vote tabulating devices, or both, or voting machines in combination with paper ballots counted by hand for use in all elections in the county. (2) Any voting machine or electronic vote tabulating devices chosen by the quorum court shall be those selected by the Secretary of State. (3) Any voting system used in elections for federal office shall comply with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. (d) (1) Voting machines and electronic vote tabulating devices shall be purchased pursuant to a competitive bidding process with consideration given to: (A) Price; (B) Quality; and (C) Adaptability to Arkansas ballot requirements. (2) (A) The Secretary of State shall establish guidelines and procedures for a grant program to distribute funds from the County Voting System Grant Fund, § 19-5-1247 . (B) A grant provided to a county from the County Voting System Grant Fund, § 19-5-1247 , shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the voting system grant fund. (C) Moneys deposited into the voting system grant fund shall be appropriated by the quorum court according to the guidelines established by the Secretary of State under subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section. (e) The Secretary of State or the county shall not purchase or procure any voting machine or electronic vote tabulating device unless the party selling the machine or device shall: (1) Guarantee the machines in writing for a period of one (1) year; and (2) Provide, if deemed necessary by the county, personnel for the supervision and training of county personnel for at least two (2) elections, one (1) primary and one (1) general at no additional cost to the county or the Secretary of State. (f) Each county shall provide polling places that are adequate for the operation of the voting system, including, but not limited to, access, if necessary, to a sufficient number of electrical outlets and telephone lines. (g) Each county shall provide or contract for adequate technical support for the installation, set up, and operation of the voting system for each election. (h) The Secretary of State shall be responsible for the development, implementation, and provision of a continuing program to educate voters and election officials in the proper use of the voting system. (i) Electronic vote tabulating devices and voting machines, authorized as provided under this subchapter, may be acquired and used in any election upon the adoption of an ordinance by the quorum court of the county. (j) The costs of using electronic vote tabulating devices and voting machines at all general and special elections, including, but not limited to, costs of supplies, technical assistance, and transportation of the systems to and from the polling places, shall be paid in accordance with § 7-5-104 . (k) The county board of election commissioners shall have complete control and supervision of voting machines and electronic vote tabulating devices at all elections. (l) The county clerk shall have supervision of voting machines and electronic vote tabulating devices used for early voting in the clerk's designated early voting location. (m) (1) The county board of election commissioners shall have the care and custody of all voting machines and all electronic vote tabulating devices while not in use. (2) The county board of election commissioners shall be responsible for the proper preparation, use, maintenance, and care of the voting machines and the electronic vote tabulating devices during the period of time required for that election. (n) During any time a voter is eligible to cast a ballot, the electronic voting machine or the electronic vote tabulating device shall not: (1) Be connected to the internet or an external network; (2) Be capable of establishing a wireless connection; or (3) Establish a connection to an external network through: (A) A cable; (B) A wireless modem; or (C) Any other mechanism or process.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2021, No. 735,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Amended by Act 2021, No. 468,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Amended by Act 2019, No. 399,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1218,§ 4, eff. 7/22/2015. Amended by Act 2013, No. 277,§ 1, eff. 8/16/2013. Acts 1969, No. 465, Art. 7, § 2; 1971, No. 261, § 10; A.S.A. 1947, § 3-702; Acts 1995, No. 946, § 4; 1995, No. 963, § 4; 1997, No. 451, § 16; 2005, No. 2233, § 4; 2007, No. 1020, § 5; 2009, No. 959, §§ 8, 9; 2011, No. 1189, § 2.