The Scott County Board of Election Commissioners met Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Scott County Courthouse in Waldron. Commissioner Barbara Templeman called the meeting to order.
Templeman introduced and congratulated newly appointed Interim Scott County and Circuit Clerk Jade McDaniel. The board also welcomed guest speaker JoDawn Carter, Logan County election coordinator, who addressed commissioners on election-related matters.
After completing the items on its agenda, the commission opened the floor for public comments, with much of the discussion centering on the recent decision to close the Mansfield polling location.
Scott County Assessor candidate Sheri Thompson and Scott County Sheriff candidate Jason Daggs both told commissioners they had received concerns from Mansfield-area voters about the polling site changes. Under the commission’s decision, the Mansfield polling location will be eliminated, with the Abbott Generational Building serving as the nearest voting center. The Packsaddle polling site has also been closed.
Templeman said the commission has faced increasing pressure from the state to reduce the number of polling locations and has also struggled to recruit enough poll workers.
“The average distance voters now have to drive from their homes to their polling place is approximately 2.5 miles,” Commissioner Ken Stricker said.
Scott County Judge Brian Jones acknowledged that with both the Mansfield and Packsaddle locations closing, Abbott was selected because it serves as a central location for voters in that area.
Mansfield Mayor Buddy Black questioned the commission’s decision, saying he did not understand why Abbott was chosen over Mansfield, noting that Mansfield has a significantly larger number of registered voters.
Carter responded that the locations should be viewed as county voting centers rather than community-specific polling places.
“You cannot think of it as a Mansfield polling site,” Carter said. “It is a county polling site because these are voting centers.”
Mansfield Alderman James Steele also addressed the commission. Steele had previously criticized the decision on social media, writing that “the privileges to vote within the city have been rescinded by the election commission” and calling the requirement to travel outside the city to vote “unconscionable.”
During Thursday’s meeting, Steele reminded Templeman that he had previously emailed her and offered to serve as a poll worker.
“That is illegal,” Templeman responded. “You are an elected official, and you cannot be a poll worker.”
Steele then offered to recruit six qualified poll workers if the commission would reconsider reopening the Mansfield location.
“We have made the decision to close Mansfield,” Templeman replied.
Steele also questioned the overall cost of operating the Mansfield polling site.
“I told you I could get you poll workers, and you said I am full of (expletive),” Steele said.
Steele argued that closing the polling place would disproportionately affect senior citizens and strip them of the convenience and dignity of voting within their community.
McDaniel reminded those in attendance that absentee voting by mail remains available to eligible voters and described the process as secure.
“We are not taking anyone’s rights away,” McDaniel said. “We are just moving the location.”
Steele responded that requiring voters to vote absentee or travel farther to cast a ballot forces them to “jump through hoops.”
Former Mansfield Mayor Glen Hurt also spoke during the public comment period. Hurt said the previous polling system had served residents well but acknowledged that changes in state election laws have significantly altered the election process for both voters and candidates.
“It is too much rule by the state,” Hurt said.
Templeman concluded the meeting by emphasizing that her responsibility as election commissioner is to follow Arkansas election law.
“My top priority as commissioner is to follow the law,” Templeman said. “We welcome anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to us.”
