The State Board of Election Commissioners voted on Wednesday to approve reviews of election processes in Pulaski and Izard counties.

Board Director Chris Madison said after the commission met Wednesday that the reviews are in response to a “history of issues” regarding elections in both counties.

While the board did not explicitly describe the issues that prompted the decision to conduct election integrity reviews in the two counties, its vote came two days after the Pulaski County Election Commission issued a news release stating it was “exploring the use of additional audits, increased public reporting and formal cooperation with state authorities and lawmakers” in response to an investigation report by the state board.

The report concluded Pulaski County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth’s office “failed to prevent the inappropriate changing of 132 voters’ record street files,” and the county election commission said the issue caused at least four voters to receive incorrect ballots in the 2024 election. The problem violated state election law, and it was referred to the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney’s office, as well as the Arkansas attorney’s office, according to the county election commission.

The investigation report notes the clerk’s office failed to prevent similar issues in 2020 and 2022.

Regarding Izard County, the Board of Election Commissioners has in past meetings discussed “continuing issues with precinct assignments,” as well as problems stemming from clashes between “two very engaged factions” within the county.

Madison described the reviews as “another tool in our toolbox” to examine counties’ election practices. The reviews are likely to find things the counties are “doing well, things they can improve on, and things that they may have trouble with,” he said.

The state board’s staff expect to prepare a report for commissioners’ approval by the end of the year, according to Madison.

Pulaski County Election Coordinator Amanda Dickens submitted a complaint on behalf of the county board of election commissioners on Nov. 19, claiming 132 voters’ records were inappropriately changed by an employee in the voter registration department of the Pulaski County clerk’s office during early voting, according to a March 18 staff report by the state board.

The employee, “a deputy clerk of 20 years,” resigned after being confronted about the policy violation, the report states.

“All individuals who work elections receive training and a binder that has all training materials written out for them,” the report states. “Thus, the deputy clerk had the knowledge and understanding that she should not have been modifying voters’ street file records while working in the call center. By improperly and against policy changing the street files, the former deputy clerk was a rogue actor who acted outside of the purview of the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office training, standards, and authorized procedures.”

Arkansas law requires county clerks to prepare precinct voter registration lists prior to voters casting their ballot. However, the report states, “As in 2020 and 2022, the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office failed to prevent improper changes to voter registration street files.”

A letter of reprimand was issued to Hollingsworth’s office, according to a May 7 notice of final action sent to Dickens by the state board.

In light of the findings in the report, the Pulaski County Election Commission issued a news release Monday stating that the body was “reaffirming its commitment to election transparency through concrete action.”

As part of that action, the commission conducted its first audit of a precertification hand count, the release states. The audit examined 2,716 ballots out of 3,225 total ballots cast in the North Little Rock School District special election and found the results matched the machine-counted totals, according to the county commission.

“This audit wasn’t just symbolic, it was necessary,” Susan Meadors, chairwoman of the Pulaski County Election Commission, said in the release. “It demonstrates our commitment to protecting the public trust and verifying every step of the process within our control. While some of the broader accountability now rests with lawmakers, prosecutors, and the Attorney General’s office, the Pulaski County Election Commission will not sit by idly.”

The county board said it is exploring further audits, expanded public reporting and cooperation with state authorities and lawmakers to ensure its elections remain accurate and lawful.

“We hear a lot about election integrity, and that’s important, but what we really need is election faith,” Commissioner Michael White said in the release. “Voters need to trust not just that their ballots are counted, but that they’re voting in the correct races. That’s why we must fully understand the size and scope of the issues that occurred in the clerk’s office in 2020, 2022, and 2024. Until then, we will do whatever we can to make sure the people’s voice is heard… accurately.”

The county commission reminded residents that its meetings are public and encouraged people to visit VotePulaskiAR.gov for more information.

The State Board of Election Commissioners has also seen what Madison has described as “continuing issues” in Izard County related to precinct assignments and the closing of polls.

During the state board’s Dec. 11 meeting, Madison said the body would have a “vested interest” in the county’s success, and that the county had “significant opportunities for improvements.” Madison cited distrust and “personality issues” among two factions in the county. However, he also said that “procedurally, they do a good job.”

Izard County was one of five counties the state board voted to send monitors to ahead of the 2024 general election.

The state board on Monday also considered staff recommendations regarding various investigations by its staff and voted to offer settlements in several cases that would result in the decertification of election commissioners and other people associated with the election process.

Regarding six cases involving a single county, the state board voted to offer settlements that would decertify the chair of the county election commission, as well as its majority member and minority member. Two poll supervisors and one poll worker in the county would also be decertified under the offer of settlement.

In a separate case involving a different county, the board voted to offer settlements that would decertify a county election commissioner and two clerks.

The people against whom the findings were made can reject the settlement offers and instead ask for a hearing, if they wish, according to Madison.

He declined to name the counties and individuals who were investigated, stating that such records are exempt from the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act until a hearing is set or the director’s investigation is closed.

South Arkansas Reckoning first reported on the discovery of the changes to voters’ street file records.