Think it won’t hurt if you set out the primary race, and wait until November’s General Election to vote? Think again! The Tuesday, March 3 election will determine many vital races.
Non-partisan judicial races are crucial. For example, one judge has the ability to rule on issues from legislators across the state. The importance of picking the right candidate for judge is critical in ensuring that current and future legislation is upheld or struck, depending on the constitutionality of the law.
The preferential primary will determine who takes the bench. Candidates include:
State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 4
Barbara Womack Webb
Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch
Court of Appeals Associate Judge District 04, Position 02
Emily White
Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Potter Barrett
Two state representative races will also be determined in the primary:
State Representative District 21
(I) Representative Marcus Richmond
Jim Reynolds
State Representative District 74
(I) Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Curtis J. Varnell
Shawn Bates
Scott County Election Commissioner Steve Holland stated, “with only two more days of early voting left I decided to check with the Scott County Clerk’s Office this morning to get an idea as to what kind of voter participation they were seeing. As of noon today (Friday) 253 voters had cast early ballots. That compares to roughly 1,000 early votes that had been cast prior to the 2018 General Election. The obvious conclusion to be drawn here is that most voters do not seem to view Preferential Primary Elections as important as the General Election.” Holland went on to add that “whether it stems from a lack of understanding of the purpose and process of primary elections or simply a disinterest in candidates or issues viewed as unimportant to them personally, a very large percentage of voters do not participate in the Preferential Primary. To ignore the primary is not only a disservice to the candidates whom have devoted a great deal of time (and in many cases personal finances) but in essence that voter is forfeiting his or her right to have a say in who will be placed on the ballot in the General Election in November. Non-partisan judicial races are a good example of contests that typically generate very little interest on the local level yet can ultimately have a far reaching impact on controversial legal issues.”
The candidates have done their part, now it is up to you, the voter, to do yours. You still have the rest of today, tomorrow, and Monday to vote early. Tuesday is election day, and the last day to cast your ballot.
Early voting in Sebastian County continues Saturday, February 29 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. until Monday, March 2 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Locations for early voting:
| Sebastian County Courthouse Room G8 35 South 6th Street Fort Smith, AR | Greenwood City Hall Council Room 30 Bell Road Greenwood, AR |
| Elm Grove Community Center 1901 N. Greenwood Avenue Fort Smith, AR | Rye Hill Baptist Church 11512 Old Hwy 71 Fort Smith, AR |
| Creekmore Community Center 3301 S. “M” Street Fort Smith, AR | Ben Geren Park Tornado Shelter 7200 Zero Street Fort Smith, AR |
Early voting in Scott County continues Saturday, February 29 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. until Monday, March 2 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Locations for early voting:
Scott County Courthouse in the County and Circuit Clerk’s Office, 190 West First Street, Waldron Arkansas.
Tuesday, March 3 is election day. All eligible voters in Sebastian County will be able to cast their vote at any Vote Center listed below. Voting Centers will be open from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on election day
| Location | Address |
| Grand Avenue Baptist Church | 3900 Grand Ave., FSM |
| American Legion | 4901 Midland Blvd, FSM |
| St. Luke Lutheran Church | 5401 Free Ferry Rd, FSM |
| Elm Grove Community Center, | 1901 N. Greenwood Ave, FSM |
| Creekmore Park Rec Bldg | 3301 South “M” St., FSM |
| St. Bartholomew Episcopal | 2701 Old Greenwood Rd., FSM |
| St. John Episcopal Church | 215 North 6th St., FSM |
| Nelson-Hall Beckman Center | 2100 North 31st St., FSM |
| Windsor Library | 4701 Windsor Dr., FSM |
| Ramsey JH Tornado Shelter | 3201 Jenny Lind Rd., FSM |
| Orr Elem School Tornado Shelter | 3609 Phoenix Ave., FSM |
| Southside Senior Center | 2700 Cavanaugh Rd., FSM |
|
Forefront Church (formerly Fianna Baptist) | 10300 Jenny Lind, FSM |
| East Side Baptist Church | 2710 Massard Rd., FSM |
| Cliff Terrace Assembly of God | 3301 S. 66th St., FSM |
| Ben Geren Park Tornado Shelter | 7200 Zero St., FSM |
| Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church | 1301 Frank St, Barling, |
| Rye Hill Baptist | 11512 Old Hwy 71 South, FSM |
| Grace Lutheran Church | Highway 71 South, Greenwood |
| Union Baptist Church | 8300 N. Hwy 252, Lavaca |
| Lavaca First Baptist Church | 100 W Main St, Lavaca |
| Cornerstone Freewill Baptist | 29201 AR-22, Charleston |
| Greenwood City Hall | 30 Bell Road Greenwood |
| Hackett Fire Dept. | 205 Hwy 10 SW, Hackett |
| Huntington City Hall | 223 E. Broadway, Huntington |
| Hartford Fire Center | 201 S. Broadway, Hartford |
| Midland City Hall | 204 N. 3rd St., Midland |
| Bonanza Assembly of God | 701 McConnell St., Bonanza |
| First Southern Baptist Central City | 12 W. Central Ave., Central City |
| Witcherville Community Bldg | 18 Buckner Way, Huntington |
| Milltown-Washburn Fire Dept | 6573 E. Hwy 252, Greenwood |
| Mansfield City Hall | 200 N. Sebascott St., Mansfield |
The following polling places have been set up throughout Scott County. The polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Listed are the voting precincts with the corresponding polling sites:
Blackfork: Blackfork Fire Station.
Blansett: Shiloh Baptist Church
Brawley: Lake Hinkle Fire Dept
Cauthron/Oliver: Bates Baptist Church
Cedar Creek: Cedar Creek Community Center
Coal/Lafayette: Bates Baptist Church
Denton: Winfield Church
Hickman Ward I and Hickman Rural West: Living Word Church
Hickman Ward II and Hickman Rural East: First United Methodist Church
Hickman Ward III: First Baptist Church
Hon: Hon Baptist Church
Hunt: Tatetown Pentecostal Church of God
James: Mt. Moriah Church
Jones/Little Texas: Harvey Nola Fire Dept.
Keener: Keener Freewill Baptist Church
Lamb: Friendship Pentecostal Church
Lafave: Harvey Assembly of God Church
Lewis 1: Abbott Generation Building
Lewis 2: Mansfield City Hall
Mill Creek: Solid Rock Pentecostal Church of God
Mountain: Boles Community Building
Mt. Pleasant: Mt. Pleasant Community Bldg.
Parks: Parks Methodist Church
Tomlinson/Tate: Packsaddle Church
