POCAHONTAS, Ark. — With early voting set to begin Monday in Randolph County, election officials have completed testing and calibration of voting machines to ensure smooth and secure operations on Election Day.
April Duff, the county’s election coordinator, explained that two types of machines are central to the voting process: the ExpressVote and the tabulator. The ExpressVote allows voters to make their selections on a touchscreen, which are then printed onto a ballot. The tabulator reads and records the ballots.
Duff stated that every machine undergoes calibration to ensure accuracy. During the testing process, tabulators are fed over 100 test ballots with varied answers to verify that all possible selections are counted correctly.
“Every night, those machines, the tablets, the ExpressVote ballot markers, and the tabulators are locked and secured to prevent any further voting [or] any tampering,” Duff emphasized, ensuring that votes cast remain tamper-proof.
Voters who wish to change their selections after marking a ballot can use a process known as the "spoiled ballot" procedure. To do so, the voter must re-enter the check-in line, sign an affidavit, and receive a new ballot to restart the voting process. This system provides an additional layer of precision and accountability.
Furthermore, voters will have three opportunities to review their choices before finalizing the ballot. Once recorded by the tabulator, the machines are locked down and remain inaccessible after hours or to the public.
Early voting locations and hours for Randolph County are available on the Arkansas Secretary of State’s election information webpage.
As preparations conclude, officials reiterate their commitment to ensuring all votes are accurately cast and securely recorded.