In August 2024, the Independence County Election Commission made a decision that would set off 18 months of political turmoil: they agreed to implement hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots in the 2026 election.
What happened next reveals a coordinated campaign to block the voters’ will.
== THE TIMELINE ==
AUGUST 12, 2024: Election Commission approves paper ballot implementation. Meeting minutes reflect enthusiasm for the change and acknowledgment of voter support.
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024: Voting systems vendor ES&S is contacted about paper ballot configuration. Correspondence shows Election Commission actively moving forward with procurement and implementation planning.
OCTOBER 2024: Paper ballot petition signed by hundreds of Independence County citizens. Petition explicitly requests paper ballots for 2026 election.
DECEMBER 11, 2024: Independence County Quorum Court emergency meeting. According to our sources, ballots and voting equipment are discussed. What was decided that day remains unclear—the meeting minutes have not been produced despite FOIA requests.
JANUARY 2025: Confusion emerges. Previously scheduled paper ballot implementation appears stalled. No clear explanation provided to the public.
FEBRUARY 2025: Election Commission receives inquiry about implementation status. Response indicates the project is “on hold pending further review.”
MARCH 2025: County Judge Kevin Jeffery issues directive effectively halting all paper ballot procurement activities.
APRIL 2025-PRESENT: Paper ballot implementation remains stalled. Original cost estimates ( for equipment and implementation) are cited as rationale, though no formal bid process was conducted.
== WHAT THE RECORDS SHOW ==
IndependenceWatch.com has obtained email correspondence between Election Commission members, County Judge Jeffery, County Attorney Daniel Haney, and Arkansas Association of Counties officials discussing the paper ballot project. The correspondence reveals:
1. Formal implementation was planned for deployment before the March 2026 primary
2. Cost was not the original barrier—ES&S pricing was deemed acceptable
3. The reversal came after external pressure, not internal reassessment
4. County leadership actively discouraged continued pursuit of paper ballots
== THE LEGAL ISSUE ==
Under Arkansas law, election administration is the responsibility of the county clerk and election commission. However, funding decisions rest with the Quorum Court. When the court effectively vetoed a legitimate election administration decision without explanation, citizens were left with questions: Why? Who pressured the decision? And what are they hiding?
A series of FOIA requests to clarify the decision-making process have been met with delays, incomplete responses, and selective disclosure.
The people of Independence County deserved paper ballots. The people of Independence County deserve to know why they don’t have them.
IndependenceWatch.com – Accountability starts with transparency.