New voting machine technology for Baxter County is not expected to be available for the May 18 preferential primary and nonpartisan judicial elections, according to Bob Bodenhamer, chairman of the Baxter County Election Commission.

Bodenhamer said Secretary of State Charlie Daniels announced recently that his office has requested a waiver from the United States General Services Administration (GSA) for the replacement of punch card machines in Baxter County that are now not compliant with new standards set out in the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) passed by Congress in 2002.

Baxter and 12 other Arkansas counties were set to receive new voting machines this year that fulfill new standards for accessibility, ballot review and second-chance voting. The HAVA compliance deadline is Jan. 1, 2006. Arkansas opted to participate in the federal "Early Out" program that offered incentives to states that would attempt to upgrade before November this year.

"For months now states have been waiting for guidance on HAVA implementation from the Election Assistance Commission and the nominees were only confirmed last week. The EAC has yet to become operational and we need their assistance in publishing our state plan, allocating grant dollars and giving the states' guidance as to voting system standards," Daniels said. "And while we have an appropriation of grant dollars for 2003, we have not yet received the payment nor are we certain of the total appropriation for 2004. Uncertainty about funding and standards gives me some pause at this point about moving forward with our May deadline."

Bodenhamer said he is not concerned about the Baxter County Election Commission's ability to run another successful election in May if the new machines aren't available.

"We will make do with whatever we have to work with, but if we can't get them (new voting machines) real soon, I'd just as soon wait," said Bodenhamer.

Daniels has assured county election commission representatives from the 13 counties involved that the Secretary of State's Office would not deliver the new voting machines at a late date that would not allow adequate training in the use of the new machines, said Bodenhamer.

"I certainly don't expect us to have the machines by May," said Bodenhamer.

Arkansas received just more than $2.5 million in "Early Out" payments from the GSA earlier this year. The $2.5 million, or $3,192 per precinct, must be used to upgrade voting technology in the following 13 Arkansas counties using punch cards or lever machines: Benton, Boone, Marion, Baxter, Searcy, Faulkner, White, Mississippi, Saline, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Arkansas and Desha.

The only certified voting systems on the market that currently meet all voting standards outlined by HAVA, including access for the disabled, are direct recording electronic (DRE) machines. Daniels said that he would like to forgo the original May deadline in favor of a later installation date, possibly November 2004.

The EAC must publish and approve all state HAVA implementation plans, distribute funding for HAVA mandates and partner with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (By F) to establish d security and performance standards for DRE machines. EAC nominees were confirmed by the Senate last week, but the agency, which will absorb among other duties the current responsibilities of the Federal Election Commission, is not yet operational, said Daniels