Early voting in several races with primary runoffs starts Tuesday, with voters choosing the Republican nominee for secretary of state, as well as major party primaries for legislative and local seats.
Early voting for the runoff runs through March 30. Early voting sites will be open on weekdays during the county clerk’s regular office hours, according to the Arkansas secretary of state website.
In order to vote, Arkansans must present a valid identification. A list of acceptable documents can be found here. Those who can’t provide identification when they arrive at the polling place may cast a provisional ballot, but must present identification to their county board of election commissioners by noon on the Monday following the election for their vote to count.
The only statewide race of the March 31 runoff will be the contest between Republican Sen. Kim Hammer of Benton and retired military serviceman Bryan Norris, both of whom are vying to replace Cole Jester as the Arkansas secretary of state. Jester is ineligible to run for the position since he was appointed to the post.
Norris and Hammer were the top finishers in the March 3 primary, which also included Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison.
Six legislative primaries have also gone to runoffs, including the Republican contest for House District 46 in west Arkansas and the Democratic primary for Senate District 15, which encompasses southwest Little Rock.
Ten county judge primaries and seven county sheriff primaries across the state are also having runoffs.
Starting this year, those who wish to vote in Republican primaries or primary runoffs cannot be registered as a Democrat. Voters registered as a Republican or an independent will be eligible to receive a Republican ballot. Registered Democrats can change their party registration when they visit their polling place if they wish to vote on the Republican ballot.
It is too late to register to vote in time for the runoff election, but people who wish to vote in the runoff can confirm their existing registration here, or by contacting their county clerk’s office. The VoterView site will also provide sample ballots for a specific registrant.
