Local turnout high for early voting
Local voter turnout was remarkably high Monday, the first day when Arkansans and Texans could vote early in November’s midterm elections.
The number of ballots cast set a record for Miller County, Ark., and turnout was “staggering” in Bowie County, Texas, election officials said, comparing the figures with those typically seen during a presidential election year.
At the Miller County Courthouse, 462 voters cast their ballots, Election Coordinator Linda Crawford said. The previous record for any day of early voting in Miller County was about 350.
The county is home to more than 27,000 registered voters.
Of about 60,000 registered voters in Bowie County, 1,400 voted Monday, Elections Administrator George Stegall said. In 2016, the last presidential election year, Bowie County voters cast 1,575 ballots on the first day of early voting. The number was 754 on the first day of early voting in 2014, the year of the last midterm election.
The high local turnout rate reflects a trend seen elsewhere in Arkansas and Texas.
In Benton County, Ark., there was an 81 percent increase in first-day voters compared with four years ago, according to an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette report citing county officials.
About two hours before the close of polls on Monday, 2,361 people had voted early in Washington County, compared with 1,087 on the first day of the 2014 midterms. And 5,991 people voted early in Pulaski County on Monday, compared with 4,675 on the first day of early voting in the 2014 midterm election.
News reports also noted large numbers of voters Monday in Sebastian, Crawford and Franklin counties in Arkansas.
Nearly 690,000 people in Texas’ 30 largest counties cast ballots Monday, the Associated Press reported, citing figures from the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Harris County, the state’s largest; Travis County, which includes Austin; Bexar County, home to San Antonio; Tarrant County, encompassing Fort Worth; and Dallas County all had first-day early voting totals higher than early voting’s first day in 2014.
Miller County early voting continues through Nov. 5 on the first floor of the courthouse, 400 Laurel St. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the final day, Nov. 5.
Early voting will also be available at the Stanley Davis Community Center, 203 E. Redcut Road in Fouke, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.
In Bowie County, early voting will be available through Nov. 2 at two locations: the County Courthouse, 710 James Bowie Drive, New Boston; and the Bi-State Justice Building, 100 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana. Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
On Election Day, Nov. 6, Arkansas polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Texas polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.