BENTON COUNTY — The Benton County Election Commission has ample time to rectify its ill-conceived action taken last week when it announced it will close four polling precincts in the county this year- three of the four are in northwestern Benton County.
The closing of the Sulphur Springs, Maysville and Cherokee City precincts, as well as Gateway in the northeastern part of the county goes completely against the grain of what American stands for.
A story on the front page of this weeks’ News Herald outlines the commission’s decision. More than 1,000 voters will be displaced.
Commission chairman E. J. Miller said the action is being taken to save money.
At least one commission member, Helen Peltier, voiced some words of wisdom: “I do not agree with Sulphur Springs being incorporated with Gravette.” This is particularly important since Sulphur Springs is a city of Second Class. And Maysville, by the way, is the oldest town in Benton County, and has always provided a central polling site.
Voters in the four precincts are not being disinfranchised. They will be able to vote absentee or early somewhere, or can drive to Gravette or Garfield, depending upon where they live.
But that is not the point!
Saving a few dollars is just not worth the commission’s uncalled-for action. There are plenty of ways enough money can be scraped up to provide one of the most important of citizens’ rights.
If the commission won’t act, it’s time for the Quorum Court and the County Judge to take the necessary steps to correct this unfortunate decision.
P.S. The phone number for the Election Commission is 271-1049.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 01/27/2010