Searcy Co. Commissioner Speaks Out: ‘We Were Targeted for Paper Ballots’

Searcy County Election Commissioners Decertified Amid Paper Ballot Controversy

On June 11, 2025, the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners decertified three Searcy County election commissioners, including Lauri Gross, banning them from serving for 14 years. The decision, stemming from a $100 equipment lease, has sparked debate over the county’s adoption of hand-counted paper ballots and perceived state overreach. Gross detailed the county’s journey and the intense scrutiny faced since 2023, and the broader implications following the board’s decision.

Conduit has reached out to the Arkansas State Board of Election for additional details and we will provide those once they are available. We have also requested a copy of the recorded meeting from June 11, 2025.

Key Points and Topics

• Background on Paper Ballot Adoption (01:26–05:52)
  In 2023, Searcy County became the first in Arkansas to adopt hand-counted paper ballots after bipartisan resolutions from local Democratic and Republican committees. A quorum court resolution passed 6-2 in August 2023, driven by calls for auditable elections. Gross, a new commissioner, researched costs, finding paper ballots 20% cheaper than machine-based voting.
• Opposition and Scrutiny (07:39–10:45)
  From the outset, Searcy County faced significant opposition, Gross says including from the Arkansas Association of Counties and state officials warning of financial ruin. Despite cost savings, the county was accused of risking bankruptcy by adopting paper ballots.
• Primary Election and Audit Issues (06:14–07:03, 11:11–13:07)
  The March 2024 primary, Searcy’s first hand-counted election, missed eight votes in an audit, fueling state criticism that hand counts are inaccurate. Commissioners faced a 2.5-hour “interrogation” by the Joint Performance Review Committee in June 2024, with intense focus on costs and errors.
  • Watch that committee meeting here: JPR June 27 Meeting
• General Election Success (29:50–32:27)
  The November 2024 general election achieved 100% accuracy in a state audit, validating the county’s hand-count process. Commissioners refined procedures after the primary, feeling vindicated despite ongoing state pressure.
• Decertification Over Lease Agreement (16:26–21:22, 39:31–43:06)
  The decertification centered on a $100 camera lease for ballot-counting transparency, used in both the primary and general elections. Initially unchallenged, the lease was later deemed a donation, violating state law. Gross argued it was a standard lease, documented in meeting minutes, and the state’s objection seemed inconsistent.
• State Board’s Actions and Alleged Overreach (35:01–48:04, 52:21–55:05)
  The state board issued subpoenas during a complex school board election, demanding extensive paperwork and poll worker details. 
• At the June 11 meeting, commissioners were denied the chance to speak, and Gross was ordered to leave after attempting to clarify inaccuracies. The board’s 14-year decertification was criticized as disproportionate, based on “innuendo” rather than evidence.
• Broader Implications for Paper Ballots (49:03–57:46)
  Gross speculated that Searcy County was targeted to deter other counties from adopting paper ballots, noting bipartisan support and endorsements from figures like President Trump and Governor Sanders. She warned that the state’s actions could discourage community service in elections, leaving Searcy County struggling to replace commissioners.