ROGERS -- Benton County's Election Commission voted unanimously Monday to add the county's 37th vote center in Highfill.
Highfill's Town Hall will be used in next year's primary and general elections. The site at 15036 Arkansas 12 West was used for precinct voting in the past. It was cut in 2014 when the county went to vote centers, said Election Coordinator Kim Dennison.
The commission needed another vote center after it was determined the Logan Community Building didn't meet requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and couldn't be used for voting. The commission received a letter about compliance from the group Disability Rights Arkansas on May 18, 2018, Dennison said.
Members of the Logan area agreed to pay for the upgrades themselves so it could remain as a vote center, Dennison said. Jackie Griffin with the Logan Friendly Neighbors said there's a meeting with county officials at 2 p.m. Thursday to discuss the work to be done.
The Friendly Neighbors help maintain the building, she said.
Two handicapped paved parking spots must be added and a ramp needs a concrete entrance. The ramp is old and may have to be widened, Griffin said. The county will do the work and a cost estimate will be determined at the meeting, she said.
The Logan building and Highfill are about 5 miles part, Dennison said. Logan had 316 voters in the 2018 general election and 349 voters in the 2016 election, according to the Benton County Clerk's Office.
The Highfill center might draw county voters who work at the nearby Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Commission Chairman Russ Anzalone said.
Commissioner Harlan Stee said there's a better chance to attract more voters with more vote centers. Any registered county voter can vote at any of the vote centers.
Highfill Mayor Michelle Rieff said the vote center will be convenient for her residents and perhaps increase voter turnout.
"It's a win-win for us," she said.
The Highfill location will need five poll workers and one election sheriff, Dennison said. It will cost about $900 to add the site, she said.
The county will have 37 vote centers for the March 3 primary and Nov. 3, 2020, general election, she said.
The county will need 350 poll workers for next year's election season. It has more than 280 poll workers so far, Dennison said. The commission has requested poll workers be paid $11 an hour and supervisors be paid $13 per hour, Dennison said.
The pay rate hasn't been set yet because the commission's budget hasn't been finalized. The commission will meet at 4 p.m. Sept. 10 to go over the budget in detail.
The county's 2020 budget is expected to be approved by the Quorum Court in December.
NW News on 08/27/2019