Polling site in Widener is changed for May vote

The St. Francis County Election Commission recently agreed to change the Widener polling site from the Widener Community Center to the Widener Grove Church for the May 13 school election. In addition, commissioners approved the ballots and discussed the need for internet access at all polling locations. Commissioner Frederick Freeman joined the meeting via a telephone call to approve the Widener polling location change. SFC Election Coordinator Sandra Wright said the new location would work out for voters due to having a handicap ramp. "We think it is a better polling site really," said Wright. "They don't have a paved parking lot, but they do have a handicap ramp. They want us to enter through the sanctuary and make a quick left and it will be right there. They seem to be very cooperative with us. It is the Widener Grove Church. Considering Widener never having 50 people coming out to vote and they don't come at the same time, I don't think the parking lot is going to be a problem." Election Commission Chair Patti Long asked if access to the building would be an issue for set-up purposes. "This might be a really good election to test that out and see how it goes," said Long. "It is probably not going to be a massive election in Widener, so this may be a really good one to test that site out. Is access to the building going to be a problem at all?" "I don't think that is going to be a problem," said Wright. The group unanimously voted to change the location of the polling site. According to Long, after looking over the ballots multiple times alongside Wright and SFC Clerk Chief Deputy Pearl Crumpton, the ballots appear to be ready for approval. "Sandra and I, along with Mrs. Pearl (Crumpton), have been through and found a few errors and I believe we got all of those fixed," said Long. "After a few times through them various ways, we believe we are in good shape. We felt pretty good that we have the ballots down. With three sets of eyes, we think we are pretty good with that." The group approved the ballots on which a sales tax election will also be included in addition to races for seats on the Forrest City School Board. Wright told commissioners that the only polling locations in the county that do not have internet access are Widener, Heth/Blackfish and Hughes. "We try to get as many as possible, but last time, they only had about three or four," said Wright. "That is because people take them out and don't bring them back. I'll try to take care of that, but to be honest with you, we really don't need internet access. The only places that we really don't have access is Widener, Heth/Blackfish and Hughes. You could have a tower sitting there in Hughes and it still wouldn't work." After speaking with Forrest City Public Library director Arlisa Harris, Wright said the group could get up to 12 mobile internet access points from the library. "The library has 12," said Wright. "Bonair, Widener, Heth/Blackfish, Hughes, Lane Chapel, Wheatley, Caldwell and Colt do not have internet. Lane Chapel has internet, but nobody can remember the password so that needs to be fixed. I thought Caldwell had internet." According to Long, having access at each polling location would allow poll books to automatically update and not require people to travel from places like Hughes to have their information updated. "Caldwell is a question mark," said Long. "We are at seven looking at what we have, we are at six if Caldwell has internet. That will automatically update the poll books. That will keep people from having to come in, get stuff approved and then get back. Out in the country, that is tough."

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