Sebastian County seeks to hire election coordinator, machine programmer

Sebastian County is advertising for an election coordinator and a programmer to help with elections. Less than 95 days before early voting begins in Arkansas for the general election, the county found itself without the majority of its election coordinator office staff.

Meghan Hassler sent a letter of resignation from her position as election coordinator to Sebastian County Judge Steve Hotz Friday (July 19). Talk Business & Politics has been told that three of the remaining four positions in the office also resigned, including the programmer. On Wednesday the county listed postings for the election coordinator and the programmer on its website.

The election coordinator position is listed to pay up to $30 an hour with a variable work schedule. Those hours are explained to be 40-plus hours per week during elections with the job being part or no hours during non-election times.

“The Election Coordinator supports the Election Commission and County Clerk to administer elections in Sebastian County in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and County operating procedures. This position will require training and/or certification,” the listing states.

The responsibilities listed include ensuring staff are informed of changes in election laws; preparing a timeline to conform with election law in advance of each election; and maintaining documentation of the election process, along with many others.

MACHINE PROGRAMMING
The programmer position for county elections is listed with a salary of $15 an hour.

“This is an extra help position with variable hours revolving around elections. The incumbent will report to the Election Coordinator and is responsible for assisting in the programming, testing, and tabulating of voting machines before each election,” the listing states.

The position also assists in updating and maintaining the Sebastian County elections database.

Hotz said Wednesday the county plans to have Omaha-based ES&S, the voting machine vendor for the county and the state, to program for the upcoming election though no contract has yet been signed.

“We plan to have ES&S program for this election as there is not time to train a new person.  Details of how long this will take is unknown, but ES&S has confirmed they have the time to program our machines. Sebastian County employees, along with assistance from ES&S and the Secretary of State’s office,  will ensure the machines, election notices, poll workers and polling sites are ready for the November election,” Hotz said.

ELECTION COORDINATOR REQUIREMENTS
An election coordinator is defined by state law as an election official, and the Arkansas General Assembly has defined minimum standards for eligibility to serve as an election official, according to the state’s “Rules for County Election Coordinator Training” handbook.

That handbook states that the county board of election commissioners may choose any person meeting the qualifications and who is willing to serve in this role including but not limited to: An employee of the county; a member of the county board of election commissioners; a county clerk; a deputy clerk or employee of the county clerk; or another eligible person willing to serve as an election coordinator.

“In the event an eligible election coordinator cannot be identified, the county election commissioner shall designate a member of the county election commission to attend election coordinator training,” the publication states.

Whoever is appointed the election coordinator is required to attend the instructional portion of the training program conducted by the State Board of Election Commissioners before the regularly scheduled preferential primary election. The publication also states that in the event that an election coordinator’s office becomes vacant, the county must notify the State Board of Election.

THE 30-DAY QUESTION
“The county board of election commissioners shall appoint a new election coordinator within 30 days of the vacancy; and (the) county board of election commissioners shall certify the person appointed to fill the vacancy of election coordinator to the State Board of Election Commissioners within 45 days of the vacancy,” it states.

Jaime Land, director of public relations for the Secretary of State’s office, said Sebastian County notified them shortly after Hassler resigned as election coordinator but contradicted the 30 days timeline for appointing a new election coordinator.

“The timeframe to fill the position is recommended to fill as soon as possible, but is up to the County to handle,” Land said, adding that the next elections related deadline for counties is Aug. 22, the day candidates are certified to them.

The Sebastian County election coordinator is also responsible for notifying polling locations and working with party representatives to secure election workers for each election, something the election coordinator office has not completed for the upcoming election, Talk Business & Politics has been told. The coordinator also must train election workers in advance of each election in accordance with state requirements and county policy.

“We are comfortable we will be able to take care of this election in Sebastian County,” Hotz said.