(a) In the event that the State Board of Election Commissioners issues an order to take over and conduct the direct administration of a county’s election under Arkansas Code § 7-4-120(e)(6), the implementation of this sanction shall be governed by the following provisions:

1. (1) The State Board of Election Commissioners may take over and conduct the administration of the county’s election in its entirety or may take over and conduct the responsibilities of a person or entity that is the subject of the complaint;

2. (2) An order issued under Arkansas Code § 7-4-120(e)(6) shall:

   1. (A) Be directed to the respondent or respondents; and
   2. (B) Also be sent to the following persons if those persons are not respondents:

(i) The county board of election commissioners;

1. (ii) The county clerk;

   1. (iii) The county judge; and

      1. (iv) The county prosecuting attorney; and
2. (3) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall continue to conduct the direct administration of a county’s election until the State Board of Election Commissioners votes to terminate the direct administration of the county’s election, but no longer than two (2) federal election cycles, including the cycle in which the administration began.

(b) Upon assuming the election-related duties of the county board of election commissioners or the county clerk, the State Board of Election Commissioners shall:

1. (1) Appoint a person certified by the State Board of Election Commissioners as an election coordinator to conduct the administrative functions of the election that the State Board of Election Commissioners has assumed, including but not limited to:

   1. (A) Conducting a ballot draw;
   2. (B) Preparing ballots and voting equipment;
   3. (C) Conducting logic and accuracy testing;
   4. (D) Publishing or ensuring all required notices are posted;
   5. (E) Selecting and training election officials required to conduct the election;
   6. (F) Receiving and reporting preliminary and unofficial election night results; and
   7. (G) Any responsibility of the county clerk that is assumed by the State Board of Election Commissioners, including any responsibilities related to the election but excluding any responsibility related to voter registration other than compiling the precinct voter registration list based on the records kept by the county clerk;

2. (2) Fulfill the following deliberative functions of the election that the State Board of Election Commissioners has assumed through a county election administration committee, including but not limited to:

   1. (A) Fulfilling the role of the county board of election commissioners regarding the canvassing and counting of absentee ballots;
   2. (B) Fulfilling the role of the county board of election commissioners regarding the review of provisional ballots;
   3. (C) Overseeing the canvassing and counting of the ballots cast in the election;
   4. (D) Certifying the results of the election pursuant to the requirements of state law; and
   5. (E) Issuing any certificate or other election-related document required under state law; and

3. (3) The county election administration committee may be made up of:

   1. (A) The State Board of Election Commissioners;
   2. (B) A subcommittee of the State Board of Election Commissioners;
   3. (C) Three (3) qualified voters of the state selected by the State Board of Election Commissioners; or

   4. (D) A combination of three (3) individuals, including:

      1. (i) Members of the State Board of Election Commissioners; and
      2. (ii) Other qualified electors of the state.
      3. (c) Following the election, the election coordinator appointed by the State Board of Election Commissioners shall ensure:
4. (1) The return of voting equipment to a secure facility for storage; and

5. (2) That ballot boxes and records are appropriately labeled and stored in such a manner that records may be retrieved for any election challenge or post-election audit authorized by the State Board of Election Commissioners.

   1. (d)
6. (1) When the State Board of Election Commissioners makes an offer of settlement that includes the direct administration of the county board of election commissioners’ role in the election process, all the members of the county board of election commissioners must accept the offer of settlement for it to be immediately effective.

7. (2) If one (1) or more members of the county board of election commissioners reject the offer, a hearing must be held to:

   1. (A) Determine whether the State Board of Election Commissioners will directly administer the county’s election; and
   2. (B) Resolve the complaint with respect to the members rejecting the offer of settlement.
8. (3) A member of the county board of election commissioners who accepts the offer of settlement will not be a respondent in the hearing to determine whether the State Board of Election Commissioners will directly administer the county’s election.