At least one campaign in Tuesday’s runoff elections in Jefferson County had access to voting machines and voting records at the Jefferson County Courthouse after hours Monday evening, according to the election commission chairman. Michael Adam, chairman of the Jefferson County Election Commission, called for Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter to review courthouse surveillance footage after it was reported that workers for Jefferson County judge candidate Henry “Hank” Wilkins IV’s campaign “went places in the courthouse they weren’t supposed to be.” Adam said it wasn’t clear whether the workers would have been able to manipulate voting records, but he said they could have accessed voter sign-in sheets and voting machines.
Jefferson County Clerk Patricia Johnson let Wilkins’ campaigners in the courthouse Friday night, Adam added. Hunter did not return a message left at his office Tuesday afternoon. Wilkins accused Adam of stirring controversy and he said his staff members were registered poll watchers.
“He is the source of all this controversy,” Wilkins said. “I hope he recognizes the importance of working together with everyone in the community, not just the few people he happens to be friends with.”
Jefferson County held Democratic runoff elections Tuesday for the offices of Pine Bluff mayor and Jefferson County judge. Wilkins faced incumbent Jefferson County Judge Dutch King, and current Mayor Debe Hollingsworth faced Shirley Washington in the runoffs.
Full Article: Election chief urges inquiry at courthouse; access to voting machines by one campaign reported.