County officials see brisk early voting for June 8 runoff

story by Marla Cantrell and Michael Tilley
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Even though there are no local runoff elections, early voting in Crawford County is brisk. Sebastian County, which has a local runoff election, saw more than 1,700 early voters.

On Thursday (June 3), 163 voters came to the Crawford County courthouse to cast ballots for next Tuesday’s (June 8) election, bringing the total to 423. Another 150 voted Friday, bringing the early voting in the county to 573. Of those, 378 were Democrats and 195 were Republicans.

Crawford County Clerk Teresa Armer said it’s unusual to have so much participation in a mid-term election.

“Usually, when you get this heavy a turnout it’s presidential,” Armer said. “It’s been surprising that state races are bringing out this many people. … We’re averaging a hair more than the primary. On the first day we voted 120. The first day of the primary it was 110.”

Crawford County unveiled its new online election system during the primary and it worked well. On Tuesday, the site will also show totals per precinct, something that’s been requested since primary night. Early voters will have until Monday at 5 p.m. to cast early ballots at the Crawford County courthouse.

Sebastian County had 1,713 early voters during the week of early voting prior to the June 8 runoff. Of those, 845 were votes in the Democratic primary and 868 were in the Republican primary.

“It has stayed steady. We’ve had someone in there voting all the time. They are definitely coming out to vote,” said Sebastian County Deputy Clerk Angie Hatwig.

Democrats are voting in the state’s most contentious race, pitting U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, who earned 45% of the vote statewide in the May primary, against Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who garnered 43%. But those numbers change when you only look at Crawford County. Halter led the way with 47% of the vote on a countywide basis, while Lincoln only received 39% of the vote.

In Sebastian County, Lincoln captured 46.84% of the vote (2,916 votes) and Halter had 44.95% (2,798 votes).

The winner of Tuesday’s election will face U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, in the November election.

Also on the Democratic ballot is the run-off between Mark Wilcox and Pat O’Brien in the secretary of state race, and Monty Davenport and L.J. Bryant for commissioner of state lands.

Republicans are voting in 3rd District congressional race, the seat vacated by Boozman.  Rogers Mayor Steve Womack faces State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, also of Rogers. In the May primary Womack received 31% of the vote. Bledsoe edged out Gunner Delay for second place with 13% of the vote. The winner will face Democrat David Whitaker of Fayetteville.

In Sebastian County, voters also have a runoff in the Arkansas Senate District 13 race between Jake Files and Rep. Frank Glidewell. Files, Glidewell and Jim Medley faced each other in the GOP primary for the District 13 seat. Files ended the primary election with 2,553 votes (39.81%), Glidewell ended with 2,391 votes (37.28%), and Medley with 1,469 votes (22.91%).

The winner of the runoff will capture the seat because no Democrat is on the ballot.