1. (a) An election coordinator is defined by state law as an election official.

2. (b) The General Assembly has defined the minimum standards for eligibility to serve as an election official as follows:

   1. (1) Must be a qualified elector of this state;
   2. (2) Must be able to read and write the English language;
   3. (3) Must not have been found guilty or pled guilty or nolo contendere to the violation of any criminal election law of this state;
   4. (4) Must not be a paid employee of any political party;
   5. (5) Must not be a paid employee of any person running for any office on the county’s ballot;
   6. (6) Must not be a candidate for any office to be filled at an election while serving on the county board of election commissioners, except for appearing on the ballot as a candidate for a position in his or her political party;
   7. (7) Must not be married to or related within the second degree of consanguinity to any candidate running for office in the current election if objection to the service is made within seven (7) calendar days after the posting of the list of officials for a particular election; and
   8. (8) Must not be the spouse of a chair of a county political party or the spouse of a member of the county board of election commissioners if objection to the service is made within ten (10) calendar days after the posting of the list of officials.

3. (c) The county board of election commissioners may choose any person meeting these qualifications and who is willing to serve in this role, including but not limited to:

   1. (1) An employee of the county;
   2. (2) A member of the county board of election commissioners;
   3. (3) A county clerk;
   4. (4) A deputy clerk or employee of the county clerk; or
   5. (5) Another eligible person willing to serve as an election coordinator.

4. (d)

   1. (1) In the event that the person considered for appointment as an election coordinator is an employee hired and supervised by an elected county official, the elected county official shall agree that the county board of election commissioners shall be the sole entity instructing the employee regarding the fulfillment of election-related duties prior to the coordinator’s appointment.
   2. (2) In the event that an eligible election coordinator cannot be identified, the county election commissioner shall designate a member of the county election commission to attend election coordinator training.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules contained footnotes to the following: Footnote to 7 CAR § 82-103(a) cited "3 A.C.A. § 7-1-101(11)". Footnote to 7 CAR § 82-103(b)(6) cited "4 A.C.A. § 7-4-109". Footnote to 7 CAR § 82-103(b)(8) cited "5 A.C.A. § 7-5-202(a)(2)".