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County Board of Election Commissioners Procedures Manual

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County Board of Election Commissioners Procedures Manual COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS PROCEDURES MANUAL Prepared and Provided by the: State Board of Election Commissioners 501 Woodlane, Suite 401N Little Rock, AR 72201 501-682-1834 1-800-411-6996 Website: www.arkansas.gov/sbec E-mail: [email protected] (2020 Edition) This Page Intentionally Blank STATE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS 501 Woodlane, Suite 401N Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Daniel Shults Secretary of State (501) 682-1834 or (800) 411-6996 Director John Thurston MEMORANDUM Chairman Chris Madison Sharon Brooks Legal Counsel Bilenda Harris-Ritter Jon Davidson William Luther Educational Services Manager Charles Roberts James Sharp Tena Arnold J. Harmon Smith Business Operation Manager Commissioners Dear County Election Commissioners, The State Board of Election Commissioners is pleased to provide you with this copy of our ninth edition County Board of Election Commissioners Procedures Manual reflecting changes in election law enacted during the 2019 legislative session of the Arkansas General Assembly. Because voting is at the core of our republic form of government, and knowledge is essential to the success of our elections, the State Board works diligently to provide resources to county election administrators to assist in implementing procedures that will ensure both fair and orderly elections for the citizens of our great state. We recognize and appreciate the tremendous amount of time and effort expended by county election administrators to ensure successful elections. It is our hope that this manual will be of valuable assistance to both veteran Commissioners, who have conscientiously conducted elections throughout the years, and new Commissioners in fulfilling their legal responsibilities. We are committed to supporting you throughout the upcoming election cycle and look forward to assisting you in any way possible. Please feel free to call upon us at any time. With best regards, Daniel Shults Director This Page Intentionally Blank TABLE OF CONTENTS 2020 ELECTION DATES ..............................................................................................................1 STATE CONTACTS ......................................................................................................................3 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ...............................................................................................................5 LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND ELECTION LAWS ......................................................................11 COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS SELECTION AND TERMS Composition .................................................................................................................................13 Term of Office .............................................................................................................................13 Chair of County Board .................................................................................................................13 Vacancy........................................................................................................................................13 Qualifications ...............................................................................................................................14 Disqualifications ..........................................................................................................................14 Generally ......................................................................................................................................14 Participating in Campaigns ..........................................................................................................14 Paid Employee of School District ............................................................................................15 Conflicting Employment ..........................................................................................................15 REQUIRED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE Disclosure by Member of a County Board of Election Commissioners ................................15 OATH OF OFFICE .......................................................................................................................17 CONDUCTING CBEC MEETINGS Notification ..................................................................................................................................19 Quorum ........................................................................................................................................19 Voting ..........................................................................................................................................19 Public Meetings/Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ................................................................19 Minutes ........................................................................................................................................20 Compensation ..............................................................................................................................20 ELECTIONS – OVERVIEW TYPES OF ELECTIONS Primary Election .......................................................................................................................21 Preferential Primary Election ...................................................................................................21 General Primary Election (Primary Runoff) ............................................................................21 Nonpartisan Primary Election ..................................................................................................21 i General Election ..........................................................................................................................21 General Runoff Election ...........................................................................................................21 County Offices .........................................................................................................................21 Municipal Offices ....................................................................................................................21 Tie Votes ..................................................................................................................................22 Nonpartisan General Election .....................................................................................................22 Nonpartisan General Runoff Election .........................................................................................22 Annual School Election ..............................................................................................................22 School Runoff Election ...............................................................................................................22 Special Election ..........................................................................................................................22 VOTING SYSTEMS Types ...........................................................................................................................................23 Voting Machines ........................................................................................................................23 Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail .............................................................................................23 Overvotes .................................................................................................................................23 Paper Ballots ..............................................................................................................................23 Overvote Warning ....................................................................................................................23 Electronic Vote Tabulating Devices ........................................................................................24 Central Count/Count by Hand .................................................................................................24 Custody .......................................................................................................................................24 TRAINING Mandatory Statewide ................................................................................................................24 County Election Commissioners..............................................................................................25 County Clerks ..........................................................................................................................25 Monitors ...................................................................................................................................25 Poll Workers ............................................................................................................................25 CANDIDATES Multiple Candidacies ................................................................................................................26 Allowed ....................................................................................................................................26 Prohibited .................................................................................................................................26 Political Party Primaries .........................................................................................................26 Dates ..............................................................................................................................................26
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