Voters form a line outside a vote center in Benton on Arkansas’ first day of early voting in the general election on Oct. 21, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
Early voting in Arkansas started Monday, and residents took their concerns about the economy, reproductive rights and immigration with them as they cast their ballots in national, state and local elections.
This general election, Arkansans will vote for the president, four congressional seats, a state Supreme Court chief justice, state treasurer, two statewide ballot initiatives and various legislative seats and local races.
The candidates, the ballot measures, and the tools you need to cast your vote.
Early voting for the general election occurs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Early voting ends at 5 p.m. Nov. 4., and Election Day polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
The secretary of state’s office reported more than 9,800 absentee ballots had been returned as of early Monday afternoon. A spokesman said Tuesday’s report will include early voting data, which is usually a day behind.
In the Central Arkansas counties of Saline, Faulkner and Pulaski, voters trickled steadily into designated locations throughout the day to perform their civic duty. Of the dozen people the Advocate interviewed, no one expressed any issues with getting in and out of the polls.
Nadine and Oliver Fitzpatrick, Benton residents, cast their votes early at one Saline County vote center on Oct. 21, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
Married couple Nadine and Oliver Fitzpatrick of Benton said they voted early to “get ahead of the crowd.” They both noted the importance of voting for the president this election and named women’s rights as a top priority when selecting a candidate.
“We want to make sure that we see everything done decently and in order, and make sure that the person that’s representing us, as the United States, has great character and is trying to do what is right for all people,” Nadine Fitzpatrick, 64, said.
When asked about the importance of voting in the election, Oliver Fitzpatrick, 69, said the future of democracy depends on voters today casting their ballots and participating in the democratic process.
Saline County resident Jerry Gardner, who exited the vote center with a smile, said he was a self-described “Christian conservative” who voted Republican straight down the ballot.
Jerry Gardner, a Saline County resident, cast his vote early on Oct. 21, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
Gardner, 62, voted early this year because he wants to test a theory that casting a ballot as soon as possible would take him off of candidates’ messaging lists, he said. He will also be out of the country on a mission trip to Thailand on Election Day.
“I’m tired of our money going to countries that don’t support us,” Gardner said. “I’m tired of the left giving money to illegals and not taking care of the veterans. I’m tired of a lot of things.”
Gardner said he served 24 years in the U.S. Army. He considered himself well-informed before casting his ballot Monday and cited several news channels he regularly listens to, including ones he said don’t align with his personal political beliefs.
“If you don’t watch the enemy, you don’t know what they’re doing,” Gardner said.
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In Faulkner County, Henry Wangle, 64, said he cast his vote early for convenience, but also because he was concerned about the election results.
“The Democrats pulled crap in 2020, and I want to make sure it didn’t happen this time,” Wangle said.
A retired and disabled U.S. Marine veteran, Wangle said he was concerned about the military’s access to necessary parts for machinery under the nation’s current Democratic leadership. He also noted high gas prices and his anti-abortion stance as priorities when casting his ballot.
At the state level, Wangle said he was careful when voting for a judge because he doesn’t want one who would serve as an activist.
“The last thing we need is more activist judges that don’t follow the law, but make it up as they go along,” he said.
Barbara Reed, a Faulkner County voter, cast her ballot early in Conway on Oct. 21, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
Resident Barbara Reed also shared concerns about the country’s current leadership, and raised her arms in the air in pride when she said she voted for Donald Trump to return to the White House.
“[Vice President Kamala] Harris, that side of camp, they’re all about killing babies — that’s what they’re about,” Reed, 64, said. “Trump is not about killing babies. He’s about saving babies. He’s about getting our economy back up. He’s about getting food prices back down to where I can afford to eat.”
Reed also cited support for Israel and said she cast her vote for president for the person she thought God would want in office.
“We can’t turn out back on God,” Reed said. “God will destroy us. He will totally wipe us off the map. And if we go with her [Harris], it’s gonna happen. We’re gonna go into World War Three.”
In Pulaski County, Little Rock city employees Matt Powers and Maddie Long walked across the street from City Hall to perform their civic duty together.
Powers, 23, said he followed a principle to always vote during an ongoing election. Both he and Long, 30, said their focus was primarily on the presidential election.
“My sister lives in Minnesota and has had a lot of benefits from [vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim] Walz being in their leadership,” Long said. “I definitely support him.”
Matt Powers (left) and Maddie Long, cast their ballots early in the general election on Oct. 21, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
Randy Zook, 79, said he voted early for convenience as he will be traveling around the state soon. A Little Rock resident, Zook said he was focused on the presidential race, as well as the 2nd Congressional District race in which Republican incumbent French Hill is being challenged by Democrat Marcus Jones.
Zook, president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas, said the polling location was well staffed and he didn’t have any issues. Zook was not concerned about election-related security threats, he said.
Resident Susan Crosby, 59, said she voted early to ensure that no scheduling conflicts interfered with her casting a ballot. Her top priorities when voting included the economy, overall morals and “illegal immigration coming across our border,” she said.
Crosby said the country’s current administration is “just terrible on so many levels,” and she voted for Trump as president.
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