More than 5,000 voters in Northeast Arkansas cast their ballots Monday, the first day of early voting for the November general election. County clerks throughout the region reported strong participation.
Nine counties collectively logged 5,044 voters on October 19, with several reporting that roughly 2% to 3% of their registered voters participated on the opening day.
Craighead County reported the largest turnout, recording 1,707 voters. Of those, 1,512 cast ballots in Jonesboro, while another 195 voted in Lake City.
In Crittenden County, 887 voters were counted in a first-day update. Greene County logged 770 votes by close of polls at 6 p.m., representing 3.23% of registered voters in the county.
Randolph County recorded 256 voters, approximately 2% of its registered voters, according to the county clerk’s office. Clay County saw 247 voters, or about 3%, while Sharp County noted 383 ballots cast, representing about 2.7%.
St. Francis County clerk officials said 382 residents voted Monday, accounting for 3% of registered voters there. Cross County reported 251 voters, or roughly 2.8%. Poinsett County’s clerk released a tally of 161 voters in an update calling the participation a “great turnout for our first day.”
Mississippi County figures were unavailable at the time of reporting. Staff at the county clerk’s office stated an election coordinator would provide an update later.
Early voting in Arkansas continues through Monday, November 2, when polls close at 5 p.m. Election Day is set for Tuesday, November 3, according to the Arkansas secretary of state.
Voter participation has remained steady in recent years during early voting periods, and officials encourage residents to take advantage of the option to avoid longer lines on Election Day.