The Logan County Clerk’s office recently wrapped up a three month process which will assign a new code system to each and every voter in the county.

This new code will tighten up and protect the integrity of the voting process for school board elections.

Logan County is somewhat unique in that it has two school districts where many counties have only one.

“This can cause problems,” said Logan County Clerk Scottie Harper, adding the new system would prevent corruption and erase a liability concern.

According to Harper, the previous system could have been manipulated by citizens voting in the wrong district. The new code system will keep a watchful eye on voters as well as make it much easier for the poll workers.

“The new system will give candidates more confidence in the process as well,” said Harper.

The clerk’s office began working on the new system in March. Harper said it was quite a project which required going into the current system and assigning a code to each and every voter in the county. First the voter had to be found on a map.

“This was a daunting task,” said assistant clerk Sheila Hazel. “We physically had to go in on each voter after finding which district they lived in.”

Harper said this new system has been a long time coming. He said he is surprised there hasn’t been a contested race thus far and is very confident that if there was one in the future the system in place would account for every vote.

Hazel said they could not have completed the task without the help of both school boards as well as the Logan County bus garage and PVA Ben Brown who helped with mapping questions.

“Now everyone who runs in the school board race is in the same playing field,” said Harper.

• Some important dates clerk Harper wants to get out to the public include:

Nov. 4 - earliest date for affixing signatures on candidate forms and filing for office for 2010 ballot

Dec. 31 - last day to change party affiliation and be eligible to vote in that party affiliations upcoming primary election

Jan. 26 - candidate filing deadline to run in primary

Jan. 28 - public drawing for ballot position in county clerk’s office at 2 p.m.

Running for the 2010 school board race will be Russellville City Schools, Adairville, Auburn and Chandlers (expired term).