ARKANSAS, USA — In the first audit of a primary election since Act 620 passed, the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners released a report Thursday that showed counties using voting equipment produced 100% accurate results.
According to the report, 15 counties throughout the state were randomly selected for the audit. Specific races within those counties were randomly selected as well.
The report stated that hand-counted totals were compared with the total number of votes of official certified results tapes.
"I think we have a really good system," Director of the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners Chris Madison said. "I've attended the National Association of State Election Directors, and Arkansas is at the top of the pile in how we conduct elections."
In the 14 counties that used voting machines, the report said findings were 100% accurate.
In Fulton and Lee counties, the report said ballots from various polling sites were "comingled," but eventually, "all ballots matched the combined totals of the results tape."
In Scott County, the audit confirmed a 100% accurate result, but the report does say that there were "some procedural and handling issues."
The report said in Searcy County, which utilized hand-marked and hand-counted ballots, 11 ballots that should have been counted were not. The audit added that the discrepancies did not alter the outcome of the specific race tested.
"We've had 100% results," Madison said. "The machine, the tabulators count the ballots correctly, is what we have found, and expect to continue finding that, but we'll keep checking to make sure."
Washington County Director of Elections Jennifer Price said she helped with the audit. She said transparency in the election system is critical.
"It's very important for voters to trust the system," Price said. "This is a way for voters to learn that we do have accurate elections in Washington County and in the state of Arkansas and that you can trust the results."
Price said that a lot of work goes into making sure that elections run smoothly but accurately.
As the November election looms, she said her staff will conduct testing of 330 marking devices, 41 tabulators, and close to 6,000 ballots.
"We go through and we test every voting equipment to make sure that the election is loaded correctly, that the tabulators are counting correctly, and that as we place the candidates on the ballot, we've assigned precincts to districts that all of those assignments are correct," Price said.
Although Washington County has never been selected for an audit, Price said they are over prepared just in case.
"At the end of the day, when we release results, when we certify the election, do we stand behind those results?" Price said. "So all of the testing, all of the preparation, all of the chain of custody that we do, the checks and balances that we have in place are so that if we are audited, it comes out 100% accurately."
Price said the public will have a chance to view the testing process for Washington County on Oct. 9.
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