Biennial Report

2005-2006

Charlie Daniels
Arkansas Secretary of State
 Greetings from the
Arkansas State Capitol

I n the second half of my first term as Secretary of State,
we have seen many of our earlier plans come to fruition.
Two of the most notable of these accomplishments are the
restoration of the Capitol dome and the full implementation of the
Help America Vote Act. But those projects are only a part of the
ongoing work of the office, as you’ll note in the pages of this
biennial report that I am proud to present to you.

One of the responsibilities that I most enjoy is the care of the State
Capitol building and its surrounding 25-acre grounds. In 2005,
we began our most visible work — restoring and repairing the
dome and building facades that had been stained and damaged by
time and elements. Look to the photos on the facing page and gauge
the progress for yourself. As additional grants and appropriations
become available, we will continue restorations on the remaining
surfaces to preserve this great structure for many more generations.

In 2005, the Business & Commercial Services section was

charged with instituting a new fee schedule for franchise taxes
on Arkansas corporations. The increase was mandated by the
legislature to help fund education improvements across the state.
Our staff is getting advice on how to proceed on this and other
business issues thanks to a new advisory council that first met in
early 2006. Its members are from a cross-section of professions
and are a valuable sounding board for our business policies.

And finally, 2006 marked Arkansas’s implementation of

the sweeping election reforms included in the Help America
Vote Act. HAVA, as it is commonly known, is the largest federally
mandated election-reform law in history. It required new voting
equipment across much of the state, as well as an updated voter
registration system. From the statehouse to the courthouse,
it took cooperation at all levels of government to make these
changes a reality in time for the 2006 elections. Changes of
that magnitude don’t come without growing pains, and
I cannot adequately express how much I appreciate the
efforts of our county clerks, election commissioners and
especially Arkansas’s voters for making our new system
work. I have no doubt that the process will continue to
improve with the experience of each coming election.

I feel a tremendous honor to have been given a second term

in this great office. As I begin, I look forward to continuing
many of the programs you’ll read about here, as well as
working to make many other goals become reality. Thank
you for this opportunity to serve you.

Charlie Daniels
Arkansas Secretary of State

Contents
Buildings & Grounds..................... 4
Business & Commercial Services.... 7
Communications & Education.......11
Elections Division........................ 16
Information Technology............... 21
Other Divisions............................ 23
Before After
Contact Information.................... 24
 Buildings
& Grounds
The 247,000 square-foot
Arkansas State Capitol and
the 25-acre area surrounding the
building are under the care of the
Buildings & Grounds Division of
the Secretary of State’s office. In
addition to daily housekeeping
and maintenance, the division
provides many services including
construction, mechanical,
electrical and landscaping work.
Staff members also coordinate
the many events held at the State
Capitol and set up facilities for
press conferences, demonstrations,
celebrations and other functions.
4
C
aring for the State Capitol, which is nearing its century
mark, is an ongoing endeavor that requires careful
planning and prioritization, as well as skilled tradesmen.
By protecting, maintaining and showcasing one of Arkansas’s
greatest historic treasures, Secretary Daniels ensures the
Capitol’s legacy for future generations.
In addition to the daily care of the State Capitol complex
throughout 2005 and 2006, Secretary Daniels and his staff
continued their extensive work to repair the damage of time and
use to restore and maintain the Capitol’s exterior structure. It is
a multi-phase project that will continue as more funds become
available to rejuvenate the entire facade and dome.
Restoring the Luster
The Secretary of State’s office received more than $1.47 million
in grants from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources
Council (ANCRC) to begin restoring the State Capitol’s exterior
— the first such effort in four decades.
Repairs and restoration began in 2005, focusing on the dome,
north facade and dome platform. The first phase of the project
began by assessing damage caused by pollution, organic matter
and previous cleaning techniques — resurfacing, sandblasting
and synthetic caulking — that actually accelerated damage.
With the cured limestone surfaces opened, water easily seeped
in and became trapped behind the sealed joints for decades.
Ornamental elements and ledges bore the most harm and were
at the greatest risk for cracks and erosion.
To evaluate the current condition of the Capitol, the
Mississippi Stone Guild of Eupora, Miss., conducted the
initial survey of the dome’s surface in cooperation with
the Little Rock Climbing Center. To get a first-hand
view, climbers rappelled the slope of the Capitol dome,
photographing damage for further review.

Once scaffolding was in place, crews cleaned surfaces

with low-pressure sprays and removed caulk and
old cement mortar, replacing it with a more pliable
limestone-based mortar that “breathes” with the
stonework. Craftsmen repaired and replaced missing
decorative elements such as stone garlands, Grecian-
style scrollwork and pinecone medallions. To enhance
and preserve the overall beauty of the stonework, a
limestone-based mineral coating was applied. The dramatic difference in the restored stone may be
most evident in the now gleaming Capitol dome, which stands out brilliantly against the skyline and
is one of the first landmarks visitors to Little Rock will recognize.

To continue work on the remaining facade, the Secretary of State’s office will pursue additional
ANCRC grants — the sole source of additional funding for the restorations.

Other notable Buildings & Grounds projects

for 2005-2006 included:
 Remodeled the Capitol Police Station
 Redesigned landscaping in the north ellipse
 Painted the Grounds Building and several areas throughout the Capitol
 Refurbished light poles and fixtures in the Woodlane parking lot
 Remodeled the Elections Library
 Replaced flooring in the west entryway
 Scheduled and provided logistical support for events
held in the Capitol's public spaces
 Oversaw the installation of holiday decorations
and lighting
 Maintained the
lawns and gardens
of the Capitol,
including test
rose gardens that
contain more than
1,000 rose bushes
in 50 varieties

5
 Testament The Monument to the Little Rock Nine

T
The hostility of 1957 stands in stark contrast to the spirit of celebration
on August 30, 2005, when Testament, the monument to the Little Rock
Nine, was unveiled. More than 2,000 dignitaries, school children, families
and others attended the event to honor the nine students who integrated
Little Rock Central High in 1957: Melba Pattillo Beals, Elizabeth Eckford,
Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Terrence Roberts,
Jefferson Thomas, Minnijean Brown Trickey and Thelma Mothershed Wair.

In the days leading up to the unveiling, Secretary of State crews

worked feverishly to prepare the site on the north lawn of the
State Capitol. An unusually wet August had workers dodging
showers and slogging through
mud to clear the ground,
pour the platform and
place the bronze works.

The artist behind the sculptures is

John Deering, chief editorial
cartoonist for the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette. With site approval from the Capitol
Arts and Grounds Commission, Deering sculpted the
statues along with his wife, Kathy Deering, and studio
partner, Steve Scallion. The Shidoni Foundry in Santa
Fe, New Mexico, poured the bronze castings.

Since the unveiling, Testament has

become a must-see destination for Little
Rock visitors. Often it becomes an outdoor classroom for area students
studying the civil rights movement, with lessons sometimes presented
by the artist or even one of the nine who experienced it first hand.

A majority of the monument’s funding was appropriated by the General

Assembly through legislation sponsored by Senators Tracy Steele
and Irma Hunter Brown. The Secretary of State’s
office provided site prep and labor, while other
funds were donated by private sources, including
the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

4
 Business
& Commercial
Services

T
he Business & Commercial Services Division continued
to reach milestones in its quest for better services to
Arkansas’s business community. Expanded outreach The Business & Commercial
programs, improved processing systems and other Services Division is Arkansas’s
education efforts have paved the way for faster, more starting point for entrepreneurs
convenient and more accurate corporate filings.
wishing to transact business
A number of improvements within the division were in the state. Consumers can
based on suggestions from a new Advisory Council. search for a unique name for
The members consist of 20 professionals from diverse
their start-up company as well
fields such as law, banking, accounting, retail and service
as file for incorporation or
businesses, as well as notaries, elected officials and
corporate officers. The group meets regularly to weigh other classification. The BCS
in on ways to enhance business services and to help Division also collects franchise
evaluate the impact of proposed legislation. After the taxes, records trademarks, files
first meeting in January 2006, Secretary Daniels stated,
notary public certifications,
“This is the way it should be: community and government
issues Authentication of
working together for a common cause.”
Documents and Apostilles,
A Wider Web and records Uniform
Commercial Code filings.
Online filings continued to increase in 2005 and 2006
due to system improvements such as batch filing. This
feature is largely utilized by certified public accountants
who file for multiple clients. Batch filing allows users to
build an online profile that can contain multiple taxpayers.
These entries may be filed simultaneously and the
information saved for use in the following year. This
saves the CPA the time and effort it takes to manually
enter recurring information.

7
 New Franchise Tax Rates
In an effort to fund improvements in Arkansas’s public schools, the state legislature passed
Act 94 of 2003, changing both the amounts and deadline for paying franchise taxes.
Beginning in 2005, the deadline moved from June 1 to May 1 of each year, and the fee
schedule tripled for most categories. (See chart below.) The additional revenue is
earmarked for the Arkansas Educational Adequacy Fund.

To make registered businesses aware of the tax change, the division embarked on a public
awareness campaign that involved local newspapers, radio and direct mail. This campaign along
with convenient online filing options led to a new record for processing annual franchise tax filings
in 2005. Businesses filing on time reached 80 percent in 2005 and improved to 83 percent in 2006.
Over one-fifth of the filings occurred online. That success allowed our staff to process payments in
weeks instead of months, completing them by mid-July instead of October as in previous years.

Franchise Tax Type Previous Rate New Rate in 2005

0.27% of outstanding 0.3% of outstanding
Corporation/Bank with Stock capital stock; $50 capital stock; $150
minimum minimum
Corporation/Bank without Stock $100 $300

Limited Liability Company $50 $150

Insurance Corporation
Legal Reserve Mutual, $100 $300
Assets Less Than $100 million
Insurance Corporation
Legal Reserve Mutual, Assets $200 $400
Greater Than $100 million
Insurance Company
Outstanding Capital Stock $100 $300
Less Than $500,000
Insurance Company
Outstanding Capital Stock $200 $400
Greater Than $500,000
0.27% of outstanding 0.3% of outstanding
Mortgage Loan Corporation capital stock; $100 capital stock; $300
minimum minimum
Mutual Assessment Insurance Corp. $100 $300

Outreach & Education

To help fill the need for continuing education among the state’s 56,000 commissioned notaries
public, the BCS division began conducting free training seminars each month, beginning in 2005.
The two-hour workshops cover the qualifications, duties, responsibilities, prohibited acts and other
topics related to notaries public. The monthly sessions are conducted at the division’s offices
in the Victory Building at 1401 West Capitol with more than 500 attending in the first year.

8
In 2006, BCS staff took the educational
seminars “on the road,” expanding
training to an additional 1,400 people
in 36 cities across the state. In
addition to the public seminars,
numerous on-site classes
were conducted for individual
businesses and small groups.

Other laws enacted during the

84th General Assembly in 2005 were:
Act 66 — Requires language to be included in
advertisements for any notary public who
chooses to use the term “notario,” “notario
publico,” or other similar title to ensure the powers
of the office in Arkansas are not misrepresented to
immigrants from countries in which notaries have greater legal authority.
Act 883 — Expanded the list of officers and third parties who can authorize franchise tax
reports.
Act 1817 — Prevents statewide petitions from being disqualified if the official who verifies
the canvasser’s signature fails to use his or her official signature as listed on the
notary seal.
Act 1925 — Standardized the civil penalty that can be assessed on a “for-profit” or
“non-profit” corporation operating in the state without registering with the
Secretary of State’s office.
Act 2274 — Clarified and updated the Arkansas notary law. It provides for identification
numbers to be issued with commissions in order to prevent confusion of similar
names and to verify signatures. Among other changes, the law clarified the effective
date of commissions, changed the authority to approve the surety bond to the
Secretary of State and requires notaries public to be familiar with the state’s
notary laws.
Act 1158 — A “clean-up” bill that made technical changes to the limited partnership law.

To promote the batch filing service, BCS staff offered on-site demonstrations of this online
process, providing hands-on training for companies and individuals who wished to learn more
about the convenience and time-saving service.

Among its other publications, the Secretary of State’s office updated its Notary Handbook
to be distributed to new and renewing notaries public and at the free seminars. The office also
introduced Doing Business in Arkansas, a comprehensive guide to establishing an Arkansas
business entity, and continued publishing its quarterly newsletter for businesses, Arkansas, Inc.

Outreach staff also began attending business expos across the state to provide first-hand
information to business owners and potential entrepreneurs.

9
 BCS by the Numbers
2004 2005* 2006
Franchise Tax Reports Issued 89,800 95,000 98,000
Companies Filing by Deadline 76,300 80,900
Franchise Tax Revenue $9.2 million $19 million $19.7 million
* First reporting year under
revised payment schedule.

Other achievements of the Business & Commercial Services Division included:

 Condensed the number of office forms used to file corporations
 Converted over 150,000 paper records into digital images
 Converted UCC to SOS Knowledge-Base software, a new accounting-based
processing system for daily work
 BCS staff were also cross-trained to conduct operations in each area of
the division, mitigating the previous division between corporate and
commercial services. This allowed greater flexibility in meeting staffing
demands during seasonal changes in workflow

BCS Advisory Council meeting

10
 Communications
& Education

T
he programs and resources produced for young
Arkansans form the cornerstone of the
Communications & Education Division. This The Communications & Education
team utilizes the State Capitol as a living classroom
Division is a multi‑discipline
on state history and civics, and it doesn’t end there.
service that strives to educate
Resources such as activity packets, curriculum aides
and dedicated Web sites help provide teachers with the young and young-at-heart
much-needed tools at no cost to local schools. about elections, the State Capitol,
During 2005 and 2006, more than 800 teachers participated citizenship and Arkansas history.
in the division’s regional in-service seminars called Using Its diverse responsibilities include
the State Capitol to Teach. In the sessions, educators are
student programs, voter education,
introduced to resources such as the state symbol activity
State Capitol tours and visitor
books, educational games and civics curriculum that the
Secretary of State produces, as well as the Traveler’s Guide services, community outreach,
to Arkansas, the office’s website for students. It features historic exhibits, event planning
games, governors’ biographies, state demographics and other and website management. Its
information that supplements classroom materials.
staff strives to serve the public
In 2006, the division was awarded a $1,000 grant from at large as well as provide
the Arkansas Humanities Council to develop a strategy and creative services for all areas of
outline for K-8 Arkansas specific civics curriculum. With
the Secretary of State’s office.
that funding, the Secretary of State’s office is working
with a panel of educators from around the state to develop
lessons and supporting materials for civics education
in the state’s primary and middle schools.

The state symbol packets are a tradition for students studying

Arkansas history, and the office distributes more than 100,000
of them each year to schools and other groups around the
state. The education team also provides more than 1,200
guided tours of the State Capitol each year.

11
 Communications & Education also continued programs that engage young Arkansans in the voting
process through National Young Voters Month activities in March. Students from 35 schools learned
about the fight for civil rights and the value of the vote through interactive skits, readings and current
events discussions. In October 2006, the Secretary of State’s office also coordinated Arkansas’s part in
the National Student-Parent Mock Election.

Helping Arkansas Vote

In a year filled with changes in Arkansas elections, the Communications & Education division
worked closely with Elections Division staff to develop a comprehensive voter education campaign
called Vote Naturally. The campaign was designed to educate Arkansans about the state’s new
electronic voting machines adopted under the federal Help America Vote of 2003 (HAVA). To reach
a broad spectrum of voters across the Natural State, a number of media were used: public service
announcements on television and radio, county-specific newspaper ads, informative brochures,
instructional materials at polling sites and inserts in utility bills. All materials directed voters
to a specially created website, www.VoteNaturally.org for background on HAVA, as well as
step-by-step instructions and videos for using the voting machines.

The division also assisted with HAVA implementation by coordinating training video conferences for
poll workers and election officials, screening applicants for site support positions, providing educational
materials to county officials and demonstrating
touchscreen voting machines at public events.

History On Display
The division partners with many Arkansas
museums and organizations to present both
permanent and seasonal exhibits throughout the
Capitol. Installations in 2005 and 2006 involved
more than 400 artifacts and images reproduced
for the exhibits. A number of materials created for
the Capitol displays enjoyed a second
A Specia
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Of particular interest was a special Black
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Presented

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Delta African-American Historical Society.

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12
 Constitution Day
Other exhibits coordinated
by the office included:
 War Letters, a display wartime
letters from Arkansas service
personnel, and Election
Central 2006 presented in
conjunction with the Arkansas
Educational Television Network

 Arkansas Blues honoring

the state’s legacy of Delta
musicians that opened with a
performance by John Craig and his Blues Band, also in partnership with AETN

 On Guard Across Arkansas recognizing the 70th anniversary of the Arkansas State Police
 Trains (Slow and Fast) Through Arkansas, which marked the “golden age” of railroading
in the state

 Savoring the Waters: The Early Years at Uncle Sam’s Spa, marking the 175th anniversary
of Hot Springs National Park

 Children are the Future: A World Fit for Children, a traveling exhibit created by Soka
Gakkai International

Celebrating Arkansans & Other Events

In addition to receptions that marked exhibit openings, the Com-Ed staff coordinated several
special events to celebrate talented Arkansans and honor our heroes.

Secretary Daniels and Senator Steve Faris co-hosted a book signing event at the Capitol to
celebrate one of the state’s early stars of country music, Maxine Brown. More than 200 friends
and fans lined up for a copy of “Looking Back to See,” a memoir of the Sparkman native’s career
with the famed vocal trio The Browns.

The office worked closely with members of the 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas National
Guard to honor the 33 soldiers who died while the troops were deployed in 2005. More than
1,500 motorcyclists ended their parade at the steps of the Capitol and were joined by over
500 family, friends and general public to honor the soldiers who died while serving in Iraq.

In 2006, Secretary Daniels hosted an audience of active military and veterans to observe National
Armed Forces Voters Week. It was an opportunity to raise awareness among election officials and
troops alike of pending deadlines that affected overseas voters.

The year 2005 marked the 85th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that
granted women the right to vote. Com-Ed staff created life-size panels of noted suffragettes for
display in the Capitol rotunda and hosted a rally to open the exhibit. Dr. Joycelyn Elders, former
U.S. Surgeon General, served as the keynote speaker at the opening.

13
 Salute to the Fallen of the 39th Brigade

Continuing a long-standing tradition for the holidays, the division organizes the
annual Capitol Lighting Ceremony and other festivities during December. Thousands of
guests visit during this time to enjoy a wonderland of decorations, fireworks and
performances by more than 100 school choirs.

Outreach & Communications

With the broad range of programs under the Secretary of State umbrella, the office is a ready source
for informative presentations at schools, civic groups and business associations. To help meet this
rising demand, the Com-Ed Division created a speaker’s bureau to help match incoming requests
with relevant topics and programs offered by all divisions.

As part of an ongoing partnership with the Arkansas Sister Cities program, the Secretary of State’s
office sponsored the 2005 Arkansas Sister Cities Conference at the State Capitol. Attendees learned
ways to develop and maintain international partnerships and discussed ways to build on the current
Sister Cities program beyond the seven participating communities in the state.

Additional activities in the

Communications & Education Division:
 Worked with the Elections Division and
the Information Network of Arkansas to
develop online tools for filing campaign
contribution and expenditure reports, as
well as PAC and lobbyist filings
 Maintained the administration’s main
website, as well as specialized sites
for Military Absentee Voting, National
Young Voters Month and National
Student-Parent Mock Election
Celebrating Woman Suffrage
14
 Researched and responded to more than 700 requests for historic documents and
information held by the Secretary of State’s office. Requests come from the general public,
educators, students, and civil servants, as well as historians
 Produced brochures, newsletters, ads, booklets, signs and other publications supporting
the full scope of Secretary of State services. Publications included the annual state calendar
and the quarterly Capitol Report newsletter
 Issued more than 150 press releases, most related to election issues and boosting voter
turnout
 Represented the Secretary of State’s office at a number of conventions and trade shows,
including the Arkansas State Fair, the Arkansas Hospitality Association, Arkansas
Association of Counties and others
 Developed an internal newsletter for Secretary of State employees
 Coordinated the Secretary of State’s involvement in community service programs such as
the Race for the Cure, American Red Cross blood drives, the United Way and Little Rock
School District VIPS Reading Day

Are the columns Doric or Corinthian? Is that a gallery or

a balcony? Are the steps granite or limestone? Would
you say the molding is Craftsman or Egg & Dart?

You may not be able to answer those questions,

but hundreds of young explorers can, thanks to a
new program created by the Secretary of State’s
office. Capitol Quest: An Architectural Journey
through the Arkansas State Capitol debuted in
2005 especially for fifth and sixth grade students.

During their “scavenger hunt,” students and

their guide make their way through the building
using a compass and clues in the explorer’s workbook,
answering questions about
features they find along the way.
It’s a fun way for students to
not only learn about Arkansas
history an civics, but also to
discover new perspectives on
design and craftsmanship in
the buildings they see every
day. To schedule a Capitol
Quest for your student group,
call (501) 682-5080.

15
 Elections
The Secretary of State serves as the
chief elections official for the state of
Arkansas, maintaining records of all
federal, state and district elections
held in the state. This includes all
stages of the elections process, from
filing candidates for office and
maintaining their financial reports to
certifying and recording vote totals.
Under the federal Help America
Vote Act, the responsibilities of the
office have greatly expanded from
one of record-keeper and resource
to that of an administrator and
compliance officer. The law went into
full effect with the 2006 elections.
16
Modernizing Elections
N
ationwide problems that occurred during the 2000
presidential election brought to light the need for new
federal and state election practices. In response, Congress
mandated changes in almost every part of the voting process,
from voter registration to the types of voting equipment used
at the polls. The goal of the federal Help America Vote Act of
2002 (HAVA) was to make registering and voting as simple as
possible and to ensure accessibility and accuracy. It has been
the largest federally mandated election-reform law in history.
During 2005 and 2006, the Elections Division continued its
close coordination with county election officials to implement
HAVA. After a careful review and discussion, the Secretary
of State guided the installation of a uniform, centralized
voter registration system, as well as three types of electronic
voting systems to comply with the mandates of HAVA. These
changes brought an end to punch cards, lever machines and
hand counted paper ballots in the state and greatly improved
technological access to voter registration data. To date,
Arkansas has received more than $29.5 million in federal
funding and matching state dollars to purchase equipment and
software, train election workers and educate voters.
A Network of Voters
The first phase of HAVA requirements that the Elections Division
implemented was a new voter registration system. After a
rigorous three-month selection process, Secretary Daniels
 awarded the $5 million contract for a new
centralized voter registration system to Election
Systems & Software (ES&S) over proposals The Network of Voters in Arkansas
submitted by Saber Consulting of Salem, Ore.,
and Accenture LLP of Reston, Va. The resulting Network of Voters
in Arkansas (NOVA) began in mid-2005 with five pilot counties —
Boone, Benton, Faulkner, Monroe and Ouachita — then expanded
to all 75 counties by December. Installation included updating
computes, providing high-speed internet access in each county V TER VIEW
VOTER
clerk’s office and offering training and support.
Am I registered? Where do I vote? Find out now!
The new Web-based system replaces a program that was
installed in 1996 under the National Voter Registration Act. While
the previous system maintained a separate database in each county, NOVA is a secure networked
system that allows information to be shared across county lines. It improves the state’s ability to
maintain the system and the counties’ process for managing voter records. Election officials can now

v ter view
share data with other county clerks, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Health and the
Department of Community Punishment. More communication helps prevent fraudulent registrations,
eliminate
Am I registered? Where doduplicate
I vote? Find records,
out now. transfer voters and reduce bloated voter rosters. Officials also use the new V TER VIEW
VOTER VIE
software features to assign voting districts, qualify candidates and organize elections.

An important tool available to voters through the new system is Voter View. It’s a fast and easy way
to check voter registration status online at www.VoteNaturally.org. By entering simple information,
voters can see instantly whether they are currently registered and where their polling site is located.

Thanks in part to a special election in December 2005 that accelerated Arkansas’s HAVA plan,
Arkansas was ahead of at least 20 other states that missed the January 2006 deadline for installing
HAVA-compliant voter registration systems. In fact, during its 2006 winter meeting in Washington,
D.C., the National Association of State Election Directors highlighted Arkansas among a handful of
successful HAVA implementation programs.

Accurate, Accessible Voting

Almost a third of Arkansas’s counties
replaced their outdated voting systems in
time for the May 2006 Preferential Primary
Election. Each polling site in 72 counties
now offers at least one accessible electronic
touch screen with special features for voters
Photo: Petit Jean Country Headlight

with limited vision or mobility. Shaped

keypads, portable screens and audio ballots
allow these voters to cast their ballots
privately without assistance, many for the
first time.
Accessible iVotronic
17
 Voting Machine
Selections
November 2006

Optical Scan, Precinct Tabulator

(9 counties)
iVotronic Touchscreen
(45 counties)
Optical Scan, Central Tabulator
(18 counties)
Existing ELECTronic DRE
(3 counties)

Previous Voting Equipment

Lever (6 counties)
Punch Card (7 counties)
Hand-Counted Paper Ballot (9 counties)

In addition to accessible units, each county selected one of three options for their
voting and tabulation systems: all-electronic touch screens, precinct-count optical scan
systems or central-count optical scan systems. This allowed local officials to choose the most
efficient, cost-effective option for their county to cast and count votes. The Elections Division
administered the federal funding for counties to purchase the new equipment, allowing
Arkansas to fully comply with HAVA’s requirements in time for the 2006 General Election.

A vital component of the HAVA transition was — and continues to be — the training of the state’s 216
county election commissioners, 72 county clerks, and 22 county election coordinators in the counties
implementing new systems. The division’s team of election coordinators serve as a clearinghouse of
information and traveled the state to provide on-site training as well as regional and state workshops
on topics such as installing and testing voting machines, training poll workers and using the tabulation
software for election results. One important series was developed in partnership with the University of
Central Arkansas to provide remote training sessions. These interactive
Optical Scan Ballot video conferences helped reduce the cost and time of traveling to
distant sites. In the weeks leading up to the General Election, the
Secretary of State’s office held daily phone conferences with county
officials to issue up-to-the-minute information and help counties
work through issues as they worked to implement their new systems.

The Elections Division office also distributed funds to help bring

polling sites up to the accessibility standards of the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Through 2006, the Secretary of State has distributed
almost $160,000 for improvements to 150 polling sites across the
state. The changes included such things as building new entry ramps,
upgrading door hardware, paving parking and installing new handrails.

18
Candidate Filing & Election Administration
In addition to the changes in voting systems, the Secretary of State’s office assists counties with the
administrative duties of primary, general, special and school elections. In 2006, that included filing
286 party candidates for federal, state and district offices, which was a 20% increase over 2004.

Elections also verified around

35,000 signatures to place five
of 10 independent candidates
on the ballot. General Election
The Elections office receives
Registered Voters
1,615,271
monthly, quarterly and yearly
financial reports filed by Total Votes Cast
candidates, political action 774,680
committees and lobbyists.
Voter Turnout
Secretary of State staff worked with
47.96%
members of the Arkansas Ethics
Commission to begin developing
an online filing service that would
improve the accuracy and public
accessibility of these records.

New Election Laws

Some of the laws affecting the 2006 elections were acts passed by the 85th General Assembly in
2005. Many of the measures were passed to amend existing laws to reflect changes required
under the federal Help America Vote Act. Some of the notable acts included:

Act 138 —Allows early and absentee ballots to be
counted on election day before the polls close.
Act 501 —Presidential Preferential Primary elections
are to be held the first Tuesday in February of the
year in which the convention is held. The two-
week filing period will begin at noon on the first
Monday in November.
Act 654 — Requires new direct read electronic voting
machines to provide a voter verified paper audit
trail.
Act 655— Changes early voting hours and disallows
early voting on state holidays; provides for secure
storage of election materials after voting hours;
and requires early voting hours of 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. on Saturday.
Act 731 — Requires the Secretary of State to file
a complaint with the State Board of Election
Commissioners for county boards that do not
comply with election certification deadlines.
Act 751 — Provides for special absentee ballots for
members of the uniformed services and citizens
residing outside the U.S.
Act 1952 — Requires applications collected at events
such as voter registration drives to be delivered
within 21 days and no later than the registration
deadline for the next election.
Act 2145 — Requires special elections to be held on
the second Tuesday of a month or on the date of
primary or general elections.
Act 2233 — Provides for the acquisition, use
and costs of voting systems that comply with
the federal Help America Vote Act. Outlines
responsibilities for the Secretary of State and
counties. Requires lever machines and punch card
voting to be replaced.

19
 My Voice. My Vote.
For My Arkansas
With so many changes in the routine of voting in Arkansas, the Secretary of
State’s office made it a top priority to raise awareness of the new laws among
the state’s registered voters.

Using HAVA funds earmarked for public education, the Elections and
Communications & Education divisions worked together to develop a
comprehensive outreach program designed to prepare Arkansans for
the big changes ahead.

The resulting campaign, Vote Naturally, reached out to citizens in

the Natural State to illustrate how simple the new voting technology
is to use. Real Arkansas voters appeared in the campaign, speaking
for the accuracy and accessibility of the new voting systems. Public
service announcements appeared statewide in television, radio
and newspapers, as well as through bill inserts for customers of
AT&T and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. Those ads
along with other supplemental materials directed voters to a website,
www.VoteNaturally.org, a one-stop shop for voter information.
The site provides how-to videos and step-by-step information on what Arkansans can expect on
Election Day. It also serves as a clearinghouse of resources for county clerks and county election
commissioners. As part of the public education program, Secretary of State staff
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 Information
Technology

T
he Secretary of State’s Information Technology Division’s
major projects in 2005 and 2006 focused on ambitious
new undertakings of both the Elections and Business &
Commercial Services divisions. In addition to helping The Information Technology
implement a statewide voter registration system as
Division is a vital support service
well as an all-encompassing database for business
of the Secretary of State’s office.
entities, the IT staff addresses the day-to-day
troubleshooting and maintenance needs to keep Its staff of technicians and
the office’s systems up and running. programming specialists works
to stay on the leading edge of
Networking Voters technological advancements
IT completed the initial set up of computers used in each to benefit not only employees,
county seat for the Network of Voters in Arkansas (NOVA),
but also the office’s many
coordinating with the state’s voter software vendor,
constituents. With the office’s new
internet service provider and the Arkansas Department of
Information Systems. IT staff visited each county to install voter registration system, the IT
software and verify that the Wide Area Network (WAN) set up Division now provides support to
by DIS was operational. county election officials, totalling

As county personnel began to utilize the new voter system,

approximately 750 users in 85
IT technicians helped troubleshoot any technical issues that locations across the state.
arose, working with ES&S staff to find a resolution.

In September of 2005, IT assumed support of Local Area

Networks (LANs) in each county from the previous voter
system provider. The conversion included setting up a
network domain and e-mail server for the county clerks.
In early 2006, the Secretary of State began deploying new
hardware for NOVA, which required an initial set up of
82 computers and delivery of these computers to many

21
 of the county sites. County election commissions —
many of which have no dedicated office space
or equipment -- also were provided laptops loaded
with the vote tabulation software for use with
electronic voting systems.

In support of other programs for the Elections

Division, IT’s programming specialist began
updating a key database that holds information on
candidates, lobbyists and other officials required to
file with the office. In November 2005, updates
were completed on the Political Action Committees
and Lobbyists database, laying the groundwork for a
more user-friendly file management system. Elections
staff use the new Windows-based program to scan
paper financial reports into digital files that are
then posted to the Secretary of State’s website.

Initial steps have also been made to create a

Candidate Contributions and Expenditures (CC&E)
database and Windows interface that streamlines data
entry. This work is paving the way for a Web application
that will allow candidates to file their required financial
reports online. Not only will it make it easier and more
accurate for filers, it also makes the records more
easily accessible online for public review.

Business & Commercial

Services Projects
IT played a key role in implementing the Knowledge
Base system for the Business & Commercial Services
Division. IT staff set up servers and a storage area
network and created a branch office virtual private
network with Office Automation Solutions (OAS) that
allows for internal monitoring and maintenance.

For the Uniform Commercial Code portion of

the system, the IT staff set up a quality
assurance server for OAS that provides the
ability to install programming updates.

22
 Other
Di v isions

Business Office
The administration’s fiscal office provides payroll, accounting,
purchasing, human resources and mailroom services. The
department manages appropriations and collections under
the office’s legislature-approved budget. In addition to
administering grants for Capitol restorations, elections education
and equipment, the staff processes franchise tax revenues and
corporate filing fees.

Capitol Gift Shop

No visit to the State Capitol would be complete without a stop at
the Capitol Gift Shop, located in the first floor rotunda. Offerings
include many Arkansas-made products such as potpourri, snack
mixes and decorative pieces by local artisans.

From personnel and purchasing

Capitol Police
to shopping and security,
Working around the clock, the State Capitol Police force is
dedicated to ensuring the safety of staff and guests around the the Secretary of State’s
Capitol. In addition to monitoring entrances, officers patrol the support divisions provide a
40-acre complex, enforcing state laws and parking regulations.
wide range of services for
The department also logs hundreds of hours of training each year
to stay abreast of homeland security, investigation techniques,
the office and the public.
crisis management and other issues.

Legal Department
This three-member staff helps draft legislation related to
elections, business and other areas of the Secretary of State’s
responsibilities. In addition to addressing legal questions
pertaining to incorporating businesses and notaries public,
staff counsel also provides guidance for state and local
officials on the many laws governing voting and elections.

23
 Here to Serve You
Charlie Daniels
Secretary of State
Room 256, State Capitol
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1094
Phone: 501-682-1010 or 800-482-1127
Fax: 501-682-3510
E-mail: arsos@sos.arkansas.gov
On the Web: www.sos.arkansas.gov

BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES 501-682-3409

Suite 250, Victory Bldg., 1401 Capitol Ave. 888-233-0325

BUSINESS OFFICE 501-682-8032

Room 012, State Capitol

CAPITOL BUILDING AND GROUNDS 501-682-2115

Room 015, State Capitol

CAPITOL EVENTS 501-682-3042

Room 04, State Capitol

CAPITOL SECURITY 501-682-5173

First Floor, State Capitol

CAPITOL TOURS 501-682-5080

First Floor Rotunda, State Capitol

COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION 501-683-0057

Room 01, State Capitol

ELECTIONS 501-682-5070
Room 026, State Capitol 800-482-1127

HISTORIAN 501-683-3187
Room 017, State Capitol

SPEAKERS BUREAU 501-683-3702

Room 01, State Capitol

TDD/TTY 501-682-3420
800-262-4704

24
 Charlie Daniels
Arkansas Secretary of State
State Capitol Room 256
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

501.682.1010

www.sos.arkansas.gov