Early voting starts today

October 18, 2020 at 8:30 p.m.

by Caitlan Butler

The Union County Election Headquarters at 114 E. Elm will serve as the site for early voting this year to allow for social distancing in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)
The Union County Election Headquarters at 114 E. Elm will serve as the site for early voting this year to allow for social distancing in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)

Early voting begins in Arkansas today, and if national trends hold locally, many voters will be casting their votes early this year.

The Union County Quorum Court decided in August that early voting should be moved to a location other than the county Courthouse to allow for social distancing in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Typically, early voting would be held at the Union County Clerk’s office; however, due to limited space in the office, the legislative body opted to lease space at 114 E. Elm, across the street from the Courthouse, which is where early voters should go to cast their ballots this year.

This room inside of 114 E. Elm Street will hold “five or six” voting machines, Union County Judge Mike Loftin said. The Quorum Court agreed in August to allow the county to enter into a lease agreement with the building’s owner in order to hold early voting outside the county Courthouse this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
This room inside of 114 E. Elm Street will hold “five or six” voting machines, Union County Judge Mike Loftin said. The Quorum Court agreed in August to allow the county to enter into a lease agreement with the building’s owner in order to hold early voting outside the county Courthouse this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)

“I don’t know that early voting has ever been held anywhere other than this office,” county Clerk Shannon Phillips said.

The space at 114 E. Elm is set up to allow voters to proceed linearly through the building, first into a waiting area, then through a hallway and into the voting area and exiting through a second door. The exit, however, is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible; Union County Election Commission Chair Janelle Williams said in September voters who require flat ground to enter and exit the building may leave through the entrance of the building.

Most early voters will exit through these doors at 114 E. Elm St.; however, since the designated exit is not ADA-accessible, those who are not able to exit through those doors will exit through the entrance of the building designated for early voters. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Most early voters will exit through these doors at 114 E. Elm St.; however, since the designated exit is not ADA-accessible, those who are not able to exit through those doors will exit through the entrance of the building designated for early voters. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)

This year’s election will see contests at the city, county, state and federal levels.

In El Dorado, races for City Council, including for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat; the Ward 4, Position 1 seat; and the Ward 4, Position 2 seat will be on voters’ ballots depending on where in the city they live.

Incumbent Ward 1, Position 2 Council member Billy Blann (R) will face Avo Vartenian (I) for the office. Vartenian currently sits on the El Dorado Works Board and the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex Board, and Blann has held the City Council position since 2008 and previously chaired the El Dorado Historic District Commission.

In Ward 4, Paul Choate (R), the incumbent Position 1 Council member, is running against Patrick D. Frazier (D). Choate was elected to the position in 2018 and sits on the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission. Frazier previously ran for the position in 2018.

Kensel Green (nee Spivey) (D), former Ward 3, Position 2 Council member, is running against incumbent Dianne Hammond (R). Green previously served on the Council before stepping down because she moved outside of the Ward was serving at that time. Hammond has served on the Council since 2004, when she won her first race running as a Democrat, according to previous News-Times reporting.

Running unopposed for the El Dorado City Council are Ward 1, Position 1 Council member Mike Rice (D); Ward 2, Position 1 Council member Vance Williamson (R); Ward 2, Position 2 Council member Judy Ward (R); Ward 3, Position 1 Council member Willie McGhee (D); and Ward 3, Position 2 Council member Andre Rucks (D).

In Calion, Joe Ann Williams (I) will face Kristi Purifoy (I) for the Ward 3, Position 1 City Council seat. Running unopposed in Calion are Jamie L. Morgan (I) for Recorder/treasurer; Todd Parker (I) for the Ward 1, Position 1 Council seat; Chanel Hicks (I) for the Ward 1, Position 2 Council seat; Bill McCorvey (I) for the Ward 2, Position 1 Council seat; Monique Morris (I) for the Ward 3, Position 2 Council seat; and Neil Hudson (I) for the Ward 4, Position 2 Council seat.

In Norphlet, Wanda Lyn Young (D) will face incumbent Ward 2, Position 1 Council member Joel Dykes (I). Young serves as the chair for the Union County Democratic Committee and was a Biden delegate to the Democratic National Convention earlier this year. Dykes has served on the Council since before 2002.

Running unopposed in Norphlet are Nancy R. Steele (I) for Recorder/Treasurer; Rebecca White (I) for the Ward 1, Position 1 Council seat; Susan D. Marks (I) for the Ward 1, Position 2 Council seat; Chance Evans (I) for the Ward 2, Position 2 Council seat; and Curtis Wade Dees (I) for the Ward 3, Position 2 Council seat.

In Smackover, Felsenthal, Huttig, Junction City and Strong, all candidates on the ballot are running unopposed, several races having been decided during the primary elections in March. Candidates in those cities include:

  • Rick East (D) for Smackover Recorder/treasurer
  • Mark Corley (R) for Smackover City Council, Ward 1, Position 1
  • Philip N. Childers (I) for Smackover City Council, Ward 1, Position 2
  • Jeffrey Wayne Price (I) for Smackover City Council, Ward 2, Position 1
  • Chris Long (D) for Smackover City Council, Ward 2, Position 2
  • Phyllis N. Scott (I) for Smackover City Council, Ward 3, Position 1
  • Paul A. Givens (D) for Smackover City Council, Ward 3, Position 2
  • Clara Shirley Gilmore (I) for Felsenthal Recorder/Treasurer
  • James Q. Holland (I) for Felsenthal City Council Position 1
  • Mary Seymore (I) for Felsenthal City Council Position 2
  • Amy Linder (I) for Felsenthal City Council Position 3
  • Jack Newbury (I) for Felsenthal City Council Position 4
  • Joyce Jones (I) for Felsenthal City Council Position 5
  • Rebecca Matthews (D) for Huttig Recorder/Treasurer
  • Cassundra Mitchell (D) for Huttig City Council, Ward 1, Position 1
  • Jimmy E. May (I) for Huttig City Council, Ward 1, Position 2
  • Laura A. Manning (D) for Huttig City Council, Ward 2, Position 1
  • Lerlene Russell (D) for Huttig City Council, Ward 2, Position 2
  • Dorothy May (I) for Huttig City Council, Ward 3, Position 1
  • Van Page (D) for Huttig City Council, Ward 3, Position 2
  • Paul Enis (I) for Junction City City Council, Ward 2, Position 2
  • Latosha Gatson (D) for Strong Recorder/Treasurer
  • Arthemus Henry (D) for Strong City Council, Ward 1, Position 1
  • Gus Perry (D) for Strong City Council, Ward 1, Position 2
  • Charles Perry (I) for Strong City Council, Ward 2, Position 1
  • Myrtle “Tip” Vestal (D) for Strong City Council, Ward 3, Position 1
  • Carrie Thomas (D) for Strong City Council, Ward 3, Position 2

There is also one contested race to serve on the Union County Quorum Court between incumbent Justice of the Peace for District 4 Dean Storey (R) and Gary New (I). Storey has served as a JP since 2012. New previously served as a JP, having been elected to the District 4 position in 2002 and continuing to serve until 2012, when Storey was elected.

Running unopposed for the Quorum Court are incumbent District 1 JP Mike Dumas (D); incumbent District 2 JP Justin Hendrix (D); incumbent District 3 JP Greg Harrison (D); incumbent District 5 JP Carolyn Jones (D); incumbent District 6 JP Cecil Micheal Polk (D); incumbent District 7 JP Johnny Burson (D); Donnie Crawford (R) for District 8; incumbent District 9 JP Benny Vestal (R); incumbent District 10 JP Donald Brock (R); and incumbent District 11 JP Ross Burton (R).

At the state level, state Senator Trent Garner (R) will face Keidra Burrell (D) for the District 27 state Senate position. Garner has served in the position since 2016 after previously working for United States Senator Tom Cotton and serving in the U.S. military. Burrell is a newcomer; she lives in Pine Bluff and is an attorney, small business owner and mother.

Incumbent Rep. Sonia Barker (R) will face Bishop George Calloway, Jr. (D) for the Arkansas House of Representatives District 7 seat. Barker has served in the position since 2017 and also teaches in the Smackover-Norphlet School District. Calloway is the pastor at St. James Baptist Church.

Incumbent Rep. Matthew Shepherd (R), who currently serves as Arkansas Speaker of the House and the representative for District 6, is running unopposed.

At the federal level, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R) will face Ricky Dale Harrington, Jr. (L) and incumbent Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-4) will face William Hansen (D) and Frank Gilbert (L).

Voters will also have the opportunity to select their choice for U.S. President. Candidates include: Brian Carroll (American Solidarity Party); Don Blankenship (Constitution Party); Joseph R. Biden (D); Howie Hawkins (Green Party); C. L. Gammon (I); Phil Collins (I); Kanye West (I); Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente (I); Donald J. Trump (R); Jo Jorgenson (L); John Richard Myers (Life and Liberty Party); Gloria La Riva (Socialism and Liberation Party).

Union County residents may also still request an absentee ballot if they are wary of voting in-person due to COVID-19. They should contact Phillips at 870-864-1910 for more information.

Upcoming Events