§ Ark. Code § 7-5-301Acquisition, use, and cost of voting systems

(a) The casting and counting of votes in all elections shall be by:
(1) Voting machines selected by the Secretary of State;
(2) Electronic vote tabulating devices in combination with voting machines accessible to voters
with disabilities to be selected by the Secretary of State; or
(3) Paper ballots counted by hand in combination with voting machines accessible to voters
with disabilities selected by the Secretary of State.
(b) All direct recording electronic voting machines shall include a voter-verified paper audit
trail.
(c)(1) The quorum court of each county shall choose by resolution a voting system containing
voting machines or electronic vote tabulating devices, or both, or voting machines in combination
with paper ballots counted by hand for use in all elections in the county.
(2) Any voting machine or electronic vote tabulating devices chosen by the quorum court shall
be those selected by the Secretary of State.
(3) Any voting system used in elections for federal office shall comply with the requirements of
the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002.
(d)(1) Voting machines and electronic vote tabulating devices shall be purchased pursuant to
a competitive bidding process with consideration given to:
(A) Price;
(B) Quality; and
(C) Adaptability to Arkansas ballot requirements.
(2)(A) The Secretary of State shall establish guidelines and procedures for a grant program to
distribute funds from the County Voting System Grant Fund, § 19-27-303.
(B) A grant provided to a county from the County Voting System Grant Fund, § 19-27-303,
shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the voting system grant fund.
(C) Moneys deposited into the voting system grant fund shall be appropriated by the quorum
court according to the guidelines established by the Secretary of State under subdivision
(d)(2)(A) of this section.
(e) The Secretary of State or the county shall not purchase or procure any voting machine or
electronic vote tabulating device unless the party selling the machine or device shall:
(1) Guarantee the machines in writing for a period of one (1) year; and
(2) Provide, if deemed necessary by the county, personnel for the supervision and training of
county personnel for at least two (2) elections, one (1) primary and one (1) general at no additional
cost to the county or the Secretary of State.
(f) Each county shall provide polling places that are adequate for the operation of the voting
system, including, but not limited to, access, if necessary, to a sufficient number of electrical
outlets and telephone lines.
(g) Each county shall provide or contract for adequate technical support for the installation,
set up, and operation of the voting system for each election.
(h) The Secretary of State shall be responsible for the development, implementation, and
provision of a continuing program to educate voters and election officials in the proper use of the
voting system.
(i) Electronic vote tabulating devices and voting machines, authorized as provided under this
subchapter, may be acquired and used in any election upon the adoption of an ordinance by the
quorum court of the county.
(j) The costs of using electronic vote tabulating devices and voting machines at all general and
special elections, including, but not limited to, costs of supplies, technical assistance, and
transportation of the systems to and from the polling places, shall be paid in accordance with
§ 7-5-104.
(k) The county board of election commissioners shall have complete control and supervision of
voting machines and electronic vote tabulating devices at all elections.
(l) The county clerk shall have supervision of voting machines and electronic vote tabulating
devices used for early voting in the clerk’s designated early voting location.
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7-5-302
ELECTIONS
(m)(1) The county board of election commissioners shall have the care and custody of all voting
machines and all electronic vote tabulating devices while not in use.
(2) The county board of election commissioners shall be responsible for the proper preparation,
use, maintenance, and care of the voting machines and the electronic vote tabulating devices
during the period of time required for that election.
(n) During any time a voter is eligible to cast a ballot, the electronic voting machine or the
electronic vote tabulating device shall not:
(1) Be connected to the internet or an external network;
(2) Be capable of establishing a wireless connection; or
(3) Establish a connection to an external network through:
(A) A cable;
(B) A wireless modem; or
(C) Any other mechanism or process.