Early voting in Arkansas begins Monday
By RALPH HARDIN
We are less than a week from the beginning of early voting for the Nov. 5 General Election.
In Crittenden County,voters will decide the following races: U.S. President & Vice President
■ ■ Peter Sonski / Lauren Onak – American Solidarity Party
■ ■ Kamala D. Harris / Tim
Walz – Democratic Party
■
■ Jill Stein & Rudolph Ware Green Party
■
■ Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. / Nicole Shanahan – Independent
■
■ Chase Oliver / Mike ter Maat – Libertarian Party
■
■ Michael Wood / John G. Pietrowski – Prohibition Party
■
■ Donald J. Trump / J.D. Vance – Republican Party
U.S. Congress District 1
■
■ Rodney Govens – Democratic
Party
■
■ Steve G. Parsons – Libertarian Party
■
■ Congressman Rick Crawford – Republican Party State Treasurer
■
■ John Pagan – Democratic Party
■
■ Michael Pakko – Libertarian Party
■
■ Secretary of State John Thurston – Republican Party
State Representative District
35
■
■ Jessie McGruder – Democratic Party
■
■ Justice Robert Thorne, Jr. Republican Party
State Representative District
63
■
■ Mayor Lincoln Barnett – Democratic Party
■
■ Tammi Northcutt Bell – Republican Party
State Supreme Court Chief Justice Position 1
■
■ Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood – Non Partisan Judicial
■ ■ Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker – Non- Partisan Judicial There will be three constitutional amendments up for a vote statewide:
■ ■ The first ballot measure asks voters to decide if they are for or against lottery proceeds being used to fund scholarships and grants to Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes.
■ ■ The second ballot measure is an amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licenses and repealing the authority to issue a casino license in Pope County.
■ ■ The third ballot is a constitutional amendment to expand access to medical marijuana. The expansion would allow nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and
See VOTING, page A3 VOTING
From page A1
■ ■ pharmacists to prescribe medical marijuana along with doctors.
The medical condition qualifications in Arkansas’ current medical marijuana law would also be broadened to include whatever a healthcare practitioner feels is debilitating for a patient and could be treated with marijuana.
Medical marijuana cards would also expire after three years under the proposal, instead of the current one-year limit.
In addition to the 2024 Presidential race and statewide ballot measures local elected positions will also be decided by voters across Crittenden County.
A total of 13 towns and cities in the county will hold municipal elections this year, with several contested seat and new and familiar names on the ballot.
In the county’s largest city, West Memphis, five of the city’s 10 city council positions are up for grabs. Of those five seats, four will see contested races.
In the race for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat, incumbent Tracy Catt will face a pair of challengers: Jessica Burns and Dr. Alfreda Robinson.
City Councilwoman Melanie Hutchinson will be unopposed in her re-election bid for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat.
In the Ward 3, Position 2 race, Wayne Croom is seeking reelection. He will be challenged by Joseph Tucker Jr., a first-time political candidate, in November for his seat.
West Memphis City Councilman David Murray also has an opponent as he seeks reelection for the Ward 4, Position 2 seat. His opponent in that race will be Tyrone McWright.
And another pair of familiar faces will be facing off in the race for the Ward 5, Position 2 seat. Longtime City Councilman Willis Mondy will be seeking re-election. Challenging Mondy for that seat will be Al Felton.
West Memphis voters will also be asked to weigh in on a proposed tax increase.
The tax aims to fund several significant projects in West Memphis. The temporary tax, also known as a sunset tax, would expire in seven years if the bond issue passes. A permanent tax increase of 0.25 percent is being considered to repay the bonds for these improvements, including a $9 million bond for the revitalization of West Memphis Parks. The current sales tax in West Memphis stands at 9.75 percent, with the addition of the “Hamburger Tax” bringing the total to 12.75 percent for dining out. These taxes would be raised to 10.75 and 13.75 if the increases passes in November.
In Marion, there are three city council seats being contested, with all three incumbents seeking re-election and all three facing opposition.
In the Jasper 1-1 race, City Council Woman is seeking a second term. She will be challenged by a pair of contenders in the form of Gene Hardin and Austin Cates.
In the Jasper 2-1 race, the seat currently held by Cliff Wood is on the line. Wood will be faced by Steve Stevens in that race. And in the Jasper 3-1 contest, incumbent Bryan Jackson and his opponent Austin Smith will be looking to garner votes to secure that seat.
Marion voters will also be asked to weigh in on a proposed increase in the city’s hotel tax. Supporters are hoping to channel more funds toward improving the city’s parks and recreational facilities. If passed, the current hotel tax will increase from 1 percent to 3 percent.
Only a handful of municipal races outside those two cities have contested races. They include:
■ ■ Anthonyville Position 4 Roy Eason vs. KC McKinney
■ ■ Clarkedale Recorder/ Treasurer – Candace Pirani vs. Karatha McWright
■ ■ Sunset Position 1 – Rickey Phelix vs. Floyd Williams
■ ■ Sunset Position 2 – Jerome Wray vs. Donella James
■ ■ Sunset Position 5 – Barbara Mathews vs. Barbara Moss Early Voting
Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 21. For questions or assistance call the Crittenden County Clerk’s Office at: 870-739-4434 Early Voting Locations:
■ ■ Marion Patriot Arena
(Marion)
■ ■ Seventh Street Church of Christ (West Memphis)
Early Voting Times:
■ ■ 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
■ ■ 10 a.m. to 4: p.m., Saturdays
■ ■ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 4
Election Day:
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please note location changes for this election cycle.
Election Day Voting Locations in Marion & West Memphis:
■ ■ Lehr Arena
■ ■ Marion Patriot Arena
■ ■ Academies of West Memphis
■ ■ Calvary Baptist Church
■ ■ First Baptist Church
■ ■ Seventh St. Church of Christ
■ ■ Roberta Jackson Community Center
■ ■ L.R. Jackson Girls Club
■ ■ Marion Patriot Arena
■ ■ Tabernacle of God Baptist Church
Other Voting Locations
in Crittenden County:
■ ■ St. Luke Baptist Church (Earle)
■ ■ Turrell Fire Department
■ ■ Crawfordsville Fire Department
■ ■ Jericho City Hall
■ ■ Horseshoe Lake City Hall
■ ■ Anthonyville City Hall
■ ■ Gilmore City Hall
■ ■ Edmondson City Hall Know your status:
Submitting your voter application at a state agency, in a voter registration drive, or through the U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee your registration. You should follow up on the status of your registration just as you would on any other personal business matter. Before considering yourself a registered voter, you must receive an acknowledgment of your registration from the county clerk. Feel free to call your county clerk and inquire about the status of your application. You may also check your voter registration status online by visiting voterview.org.
