Early voting in the preferential primary for local, state and federal offices will continue today, tomorrow and Monday before Super Tuesday, which is scheduled for March 3.
Union County Clerk Shannon Phillips said turnout this year has been unusually low, with only 933 early voters having cast their ballot as of 3:30 yesterday afternoon. In past years, early voting totals have ranged between 300 and 500 voters per day.
“People just aren’t showing any interest in this election,” Phillips said. “We usually have much better turnout for a presidential primary.”
There are 27,292 registered voters in Union County. She said usually at least 3,000 people vote during primary elections, particularly during a presidential election year.
Early voting is held at the Union County Courthouse, located at 101 N. Washington Ave. in El Dorado. Early voting is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday.
In Arkansas, voters may vote in either the Democratic or Republican parties’ preferential primary, regardless of their political affiliation. Voters must choose which party’s primary they want to vote in and specify their choice to a poll worker when they go to vote.
Voters are also required to present photo identification when they go to vote. Per the state Constitution, a voter’s ID must show the name of the voter the ID was issued to; show a photo of the person the ID was issued to; have been issued by the State of Arkansas, the United States or an accredited college or university in the State of Arkansas; and have not expired more than four years ago. A driver’s license, concealed carry license, a U.S. passport or a South Arkansas Community College student ID, for example, would all be acceptable, among other documents.
Those who do not have the required ID may request a free ‘Voter Verification Card’ from the Arkansas Secretary of State. Those who are unable to produce an acceptable form of ID when they go to vote may still vote on a provisional ballot, where the voter can affirm their registration and vote on a paper ballot.
Phillips also noted that those who have moved since they registered to vote will need to update their addresses. To do so, call her office at 870-864-1910.
Through noon Monday, independent candidates in El Dorado, Junction City, Huttig, Strong and Smackover can file petitions for nomination at the Clerk’s office. After that, they will be ineligible to be placed on the ballot. In other municipalities and in Union County, statewide and federal races, the deadline is May 1.
Super Tuesday
Arkansas is one of 14 states that will hold its preferential primary election on March 3. Several local races will be decided and voters also will have the opportunity to vote to select a presidential candidate from the party of their choice.
Voters can also choose to vote or not on unopposed candidates from whichever party’s primary they vote in. School board races and nonpartisan judicial races will also appear on primary ballots, along with school millage questions.
This year, for the first time, Union County voters will be able to vote at any of the county’s 19 polling locations after a decision by the county Quorum Court to designate each site as a voting center. Per state law, any qualified voter from any precinct in the county can vote at any of the sites. A full list of voting centers appears on this page.
Candidates
Nonpartisan local school board candidates include Kenneth V. Clemons and Jay Burroff vying for the El Dorado School District Zone 2 position; and Keith Smith and Shaniel Yarbrough vying for the ESD Zone 4 position. School Board officials serve four-year terms.
The candidates for the District 5 Court of Appeals Assistant Judge are James McMenis and incumbent Court of Appeals Judge Mark Klappenbach. The winner will serve a four-year term.
Candidates for the State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 4 are Barbara Webb and incumbent Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch. The winner of this race also will serve a four-year term.
Several local races will be decided in the primary election as well. Democrats, depending on where they live, will select either Allison A. Howell or Latosha Gatlin to serve a four-year term as the Recorder/Treasurer for the City of Strong. Republicans, again depending on where they live, will select either incumbent William Crowder or Donnie Clayton for a four-year term as District 8 Justice of the Peace on the Union County Quorum Court; and either incumbent Billy E. Blann or Frank Hash for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat on the El Dorado City Council, another four-year term.
For State Senate District 27, Democrats residing within the district will choose from Keidra Burrell and Garry L. Smith to select who will go on to face incumbent Sen. Trent Garner (R-El Dorado) in the November general election.
Voters also will select their preferred presidential candidate in the party primary they choose to vote in. Republican candidates include President Donald Trump, Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente and Bill Weld.
Some Democratic presidential candidates have dropped out of the race but will still appear on the primary ballot. Democratic presidential candidates who will appear on the ballot are Cory Booker, Michael R. Bloomberg, Joe Sestak, Julian Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, Marianne Williamson, Michael Bennet, Andrew Yang, Steve Bullock, Tom Steyer, John K. Delaney, Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Mosie Boyd and Joseph R. Biden.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].
Vote center locations
Strong Community Center - 9400 Strong Hwy., Strong
South Arkansas Community College, East Campus - 3696 E. Main St., El Dorado
Mt. Union Baptist Church - 653 Mt. Union Rd., El Dorado
Parkers Chapel First Baptist Church - 2975 Haynesville Hwy., Parkers Chapel
Wyatt Baptist Church - 4621 W. Hillsboro St., El Dorado
Calion Community Center - 159 N. Hoover, Calion
Union County Fairgrounds - 1432 9th St., El Dorado
Hillsboro Church of Christ - 1322 W. Hillsboro St., El Dorado
St. James Baptist Church - 608 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., El Dorado
El Dorado Municipal Auditorium - 100 W. 8th St., El Dorado
Felsenthal City Hall - 1000 S. 3rd St., Felsenthal
Huttig Community Center - 501 Frost St., Huttig
Junction City City Hall - 200 N. Main St., Junction City
Lawson Fire Department - 140 McCall St., Lawson
Mt. Holly Community Church - 2935 Stephens Hwy., Mt. Holly
Norphlet City Hall - 101 E. Padgett St., Norphlet
Smackover First United Methodist Church - 500 W. 5th, Smackover
Three Creeks Baptist Church - 8914 Haynesville Hwy., Junction City
Union Baptist Church - 144 Crain City Rd., El Dorado