Faulkner County court adopts three ordinances; vote to transfer voting machines to Montgomery County fails

Faulkner County's Quorum Court passed three ordinances on routine appropriations and staff reclassifications during its February 2025 meeting, but rejected a proposal to transfer surplus voting machines to neighboring Montgomery County after discussion about local voting access.

The court approved Ordinance 25-04, an appropriation ordinance that amends Faulkner County Ordinance 24-52 and allocates grant funds, including funds tied to Judge Chuck Claussen's drug court grant and equipment for a consolidation project. The court also approved Ordinance 25-05, which reclassifies two positions and adjusts pay in the prosecuting attorney's office by shifting existing budgeted funds, and Ordinance 25-06, which reclassifies two positions in the county clerk's office using existing budgeted funds. All three ordinances were presented as not requiring new appropriations.

By contrast, Proposed Ordinance 25-07, a measure to transfer eight surplus ExpressVote machines from Faulkner County to Montgomery County, failed to reach the two-thirds threshold required under the statute governing transfers of this type. The court debated the item extensively: some members expressed concern about giving machines away while West Conway voters continue to experience long lines at the McGee Center; others said the county had a substantial reserve of machines and that the equipment had never been used since delivery.

The court recorded votes by roll call. Ordinances 25-04, 25-05 and 25-06 passed by the simple majorities required for those measures; the motion to transfer machines (25-07) did not reach the required two-thirds majority and therefore failed. The court's discussion around 25-07 also included a motion to table that initially failed on a 5—to— vote, and subsequent roll-call votes on the ordinance itself produced seven "yes" votes, which was short of the nine votes (two-thirds of the 13-member court) required by statute for this particular transfer.

The minutes show the court took the following formal actions on ordinances at the session: Ordinance 25-04 (appropriation) was moved and seconded, read into the record, discussed as relating to grant drawdowns and equipment purchases, and passed on roll call. Ordinance 25-05 (prosecutor office reclass/regrade) was described as a reallocation of existing budget funds to retain a long-term employee; it was approved after discussion and a roll-call vote. Ordinance 25-06 (county clerk reclasses) likewise moved forward as a reallocation of existing funds and passed on roll call. Proposed Ordinance 25-07 was debated at length, including discussion of how many machines the county actually stores and whether opening an additional voting site in West Conway would better address long lines; following votes, the transfer ordinance failed to achieve the two-thirds threshold.

The court also recorded confirmations of several appointments and heard routine department reports during the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 25-04 (appropriation ordinance amending 24-52): Passed (roll-call vote; motion carries). Referenced during discussion by County Judge Chuck Claussen and other officials as related to drawdowns and grant start-up costs for a program the court described as drug-court related; equipment purchases for a consolidation were also noted. - Ordinance 25-05 (reclassification and pay adjustments, prosecuting attorney's office): Passed (roll-call vote). Described by sponsor as a shift of existing budgeted funds to retain a long-time trial assistant and align pay with experience. - Ordinance 25-06 (reclassification and pay adjustments, county clerk's office): Passed (roll-call vote). Described as shifting existing funds to adjust pay for experienced staff; not a request for new money. - Ordinance 25-07 (transfer of ExpressVote machines to Montgomery County): Failed to reach required two-thirds vote; discussion centered on whether Faulkner County should retain surplus machines given lines at the McGee Center and potential to open an additional West Conway voting site.

The court did not adopt any other actions that changed existing policy beyond the enacted appropriation and personnel reclassifications.

Ending The court adjourned after confirming appointments and brief announcements. Members who pushed to improve voting access in West Conway said they will pursue further conversation with the election commission and local stakeholders about adding voting sites; other members said the county's elections staff reported adequate machine reserves and that the immediate surplus could help another county. The transfer question may reappear if the court or the election commission develops a clear plan to expand voting sites in West Conway.