Pulaski County Election Integrity: Continuing The 2024 Investigation
The Reckoning denied in-person access to precinct data. Pulaski County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth unavailable.
At 10:07 a.m. Richard stopped by the Pulaski County Clerk's office for an in-person inspection of public records concerning the 2024 general election.
Tammy McWhorter with the Pulaski County Clerk's office told Richard that the computer system had been down for approximately two weeks.
During a short wait, McWhorter granted access to the computer system inside Keith Rancifer's office to a gentleman in open view to Richard as he waited for access to the records.
Assistant Chief Deputy Deborah Mitchell entered the office. After pleasantries, Richard said, “Just wanted to see how you’re handling like Freedom of Information requests and different things while the computer systems are down.”
Mitchell said, “You can do there is on Pulaski County’s website, there's a …”
“I was wondering if I could actually, you know, I could obtain some documents, today, concerning the 2024 election or at least review them,” Richard said.
Mitchell said, “For the 2024 election? I don't think that that would be able to be able to be done because our computer systems down. So once we're back up, fully operational put in the request.”
Richard said, “Okay, I was wondering how this might affect the Attorney General's Election Integrity Unit’s Investigation.”
Mitchell said, “I have no idea.”
“You don’t know?” Richard asked.
As the conversation continued, Mitchell repeatedly claimed that the clerk's office could not access the information concerning the early voting in 2024 to comply with the in-person inspection due to the computer system they claim to be down.
Richard said, “I got you, so you can't see like the precinct data or any of the changes that happened during the early voting?”
Mitchell said, “Our system is down. Can’t do that.”
“Really?” Richard asked.
“Our system is down for that so …,” Mitchell said.
Richard asked, “So you not have paper copies of that information?”
“Like precinct?” Mitchell asked
“Do you remember the changes that happened in the October?” Richard asked.
Mitchell said, “I can’t answer that. That’s a good question. I can’t answer that.”
“There should be some documents that I could view concerning, is Miss Hollingsworth here?”
“No, no, so if you want to be very specific…” Mitchell said.
“I want to specifically look at the data that shows the interactions with Pulaski County employees accessing the early voting information,” Richard said.
“Now wasn’t that information in the, in the, huh,” Mitchell said.
“That was for one incident,” Richard said. “I want to look at the entire early voting to see if there was any additional changes during…”
“Early. I see what you're saying,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell told Richard that the Reckoning would have to submit a request in writing to obtain the documents of interest.
Richard informed Mitchell of Arkansas code 25-19-105 (a) (1) (A):
“Except as otherwise specifically provided by this section or by laws specifically enacted to provide otherwise, all public records shall be open to inspection and copying, including without limitation copying through image capture, including still and moving photography and video and digital recording, by any citizen of the State of Arkansas during the regular business hours of the custodian of the records.”
Listen to some of the conversation between Richard and Mitchell here.
Mitchell stepped out of the office briefly to retrieve a copy of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act handbook and returned with it. She was accompanied by Dawn Williams, who was identified as a Pulaski County attorney, who also denied access to the records.
Williams informed Richard repeatedly, “I can only tell you once again I'm going to repeat it and I'm not going to go back and forth. I can't give you what I don't have.”
The conversation continued.
Richard said, “I wanted you, I need, feel free to look up 25-19-105. Look at (a) (1) capital (A), where it says that this can be done and then you go scroll, right on down through there, this every single bit of it. I most definitely have the right to come in here and inspect these records.”
Williams said, “I never said you didn’t have the right. You absolutely have the right. What I’m saying is if I don't have it to give it to you right now, I can't give it to you.”
Richard asked, “When do you expect that? When do y'all expect the computers…”
No one could give Richard an answer about when the computers would again be operating correctly in the clerk's office.
Listen to part of the conversation between Richard, Mitchell and Williams.
Upon leaving the office, Richard entered another office bearing the name of Hollingsworth to inquire about the computer system.
Richard asked a worker, “I’m just wondering if y’alls computer systems are working?”
“We’re good,” he said.
“Y’all’s are working but the clerk’s office is not?” Richard asked.
“Say what?” the man asked.
“The clerk’s office computer systems are down but y’alls are working?” Richard asked.
“This is the clerk’s office,” the man said.
“Well, I know but they tell me across the hall that their system is down. They can’t access any information,” Richard said.
Richard left the courthouse momentarily to place a phone call then returned to inquire further into the computer system failures occurring in some offices but not others.
Richard asked security to direct him to a person who knew about the computer system. The security officer introduced Richard to “IT.”
“Sir, what is wrong with the computer system?” Richard asked.
The person referred to Richard as “IT” responded, “I can't tell you anything.”
Richard asked, “So you can't confirm whether or not the systems are down internally?”
The response, “Sir, you are talking to the wrong person.”
Richard asked, “Who do I need to talk to?”
“That person is indisposable, it can not be discussed, can't be disturbed,” the man said.
Richard asked, “Can you give me the name of the person so I can send them an email?
The response: “No.”
Richard asked, “Can I have your name, sir?”
Response? “I’m not saying.”
Hollingsworth’s office sent the following email to media at 11:43 a.m.
TERRI HOLLINGSWORTH
Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk
January 31, 2025
Ternesha Womack
(501) 340-6682 office (501) 515-1495 mobile
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pulaski County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth Addresses Ongoing Computer Issues
(PULASKI COUNTY, AR) - On January 16, 2025, the Pulaski County Clerk's Office began experiencing technical issues with our computer systems, which impacted business operations. Currently, our office is still unable to fully conduct business as usual.
The accounting, court clerks, and central receiving departments are operating as normal, although at a reduced pace. The voter department is now able to process voter registration applications. The real estate department has limited capability to receive real estate-related documents, such as deeds, mortgages, and liens. Also, the records department is still unable to issue marriage licenses.
Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth shared the following statement:
"We are actively troubleshooting the issues and look forward to being fully operational soon. I want to assure you that our IT department is diligently working to resolve this matter. Our primary focus is restoring our computer systems and quickly returning to normal business operations. We are currently investigating the cause to better understand what occurred. We will notify you once we have more information to share. In the meantime, thank you for your understanding and patience during this challenging period."
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Note: The release does not mention how to obtain documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
According to today's release, the technical issues began on Jan. 16 in the clerk's office.
On the night of Jan. 16, Michael White was elected by the Republican Party to serve on the Pulaski County Election Commission. He replaced Commissioner David Scott.
This week, Sydney Rasch, a Democrat, left the commission. Steve Harrelson will replace her, according to a Democratic Party of Pulaski County newsletter.
Harrelson posted the following on his Facebook page.
The remaining commissioner is Susan Meadors, who refused to certify the 2024 election results. Scott and Rasch certified the results.
I much prefer reading articles like this over White House press releases. Using, preserving and strengthening the AFOIA IS OF UNPARALLELED IMPORTANCE to this state. Keep it up! Your efforts are appreciated.
Does the FOIA make allowances for "the computers are down." Couldn't people just say "the computers are down" anytime they don't want to give access to something?