AAC
LEGAL CORNER Voting
Secretary of State’s office has provided personal protective equipment to counties to make polling sites safe, and counties will be able to apply for reimbursement for other COVID-19 related expenses incurred. Te Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners has issued guidance to the counties with clear procedures on the processing of absentee ballots as well as best practices for use during in-person early and election-day voting. Tose prefer- ring to vote in person are encouraged to vote early. Early vot- ing locations may vary from election day locations, so officials recommend that you check with your local county clerk’s of- fice or the Secretary of State’s website to find the location(s) where you can vote early, up to two weeks before election day starting Oct. 19. Voting early allows you the peace of mind of knowing that your vote was received and counted, while also avoiding long lines and unnecessary exposure to large crowds that may accumulate on election day. Voters are strongly encouraged to wear a mask and main-
tain proper social distancing while in lines to protect them- selves and others. Te most important function of a mask is to prevent its wearer from spreading the virus via water droplets
Continued From Page 16 <<<
to others; wearing one might prevent you from unknowingly spreading the virus to others, including high-risk individuals. It is also worth noting that Arkansas prohibits voters from elec- tioneering within 100 feet of a polling place, and this would include wearing masks that contain the name of a candidate or issue that is on the ballot. Masks will be provided at polling sites for those who need one. County clerks, county election commissioners, and other election officials across the state have worked tirelessly for months to ensure that Arkansas elections will be handled safely and securely. Poll workers at voting sites receive little compensation and are doing their best to follow the training that they have received. In conclusion, we can all do our part: if voting by absentee, apply for and return your ballot early rather than waiting until the last minute; if voting in person, strongly consider voting early to avoid long lines and large crowds; and finally, no matter how you choose to exercise your right to vote, please practice patience, kindness, and respect for others who are all simply trying to do the best they can in the given the circumstances.
16
COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2020
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
