Early Voter Turnout Light For School Election

— Turnout in the first four days of early voting for this year’s school election has been slow, according to Benton County Clerk Tena O’Brien.

At A Glance

Election Day Polling Sites

Bentonville School District

Three polling places will be open for voters in the Bentonville School District for Tuesday’s annual school election.

• Voters in precincts 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38 and 41 — voting in Zones 1, 2, 3, and 4 — will vote at the Bentonville Church of Christ, 811 N. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville.

• Voters in precincts 22, 32, 36, 37, 38, 41 and 47 — voting in Zones 5 and 6 — will vote at the Bentonville First Assembly of God, 807 S.E. 14th St. in Bentonville.

• Voters in precincts 18, 19, 20, 22, 34 and 43 — voting in Zone 7 — will vote at the Cave Springs Community Building, 117 Main St. in Cave Springs.

Gravette School District

Four polling places will be open for voters in the Gravette School District for Tuesday’s annual school election.

• Voters in Precinct 1 will vote at the Gravette Civic Center, 401 Charlotte St. S.E. in Gravette.

• Voters in Precincts 24, 25 and 26 will vote at the Highlands Church, 371 Glasgow Road in Bella Vista.

• Voters in Precincts 21, 22 and 23 will vote at the Hiwasse Fire Station/Community Building, 13690 Fire House Lane in Hiwasse.

• Voters in Precinct 2 will vote in the Sulphur Springs Community Building, 456 White St. in Sulphur Springs.

Source: Benton County Clerk’s Office

O’Brien said Friday the turnout has been typical of school elections when voters face fewer choices on the ballot.

“It’s been very slow,” O’Brien said. “I think it’s been slower this year because there are no millage changes.”

Early voting ends Monday, but voters should be aware their options will be limited. The Benton County Clerk’s offices will still be open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday. The County Clerk has offices in the County Administration Building at 215 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville, 300 W. Poplar St. in Rogers and at 707 S. Lincoln St. in Siloam Springs.

Early voting at the Iberia Bank location at 706 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville and at the Centerton Fire Station at 900 W. Centerton Blvd. ended Friday.

According to Tiffany Underwood with the County Clerk’s Office, 183 early votes were cast at the County Clerk’s main office in Bentonville by Friday afternoon. The Iberia Bank location had the second-highest number, with 176 people having voted. A total of 47 voters had used the Centerton location, while 23 people had voted in Rogers and 11 in Siloam Springs.

“It’s good that people know they can vote early at all these different locations, not just at the main office,” Underwood said. “That will help in the general election.”

O’Brien said voters who choose to wait until Tuesday to cast their ballots should verify their polling location before they go to vote.

“Folks can get on the website and find out where they’re supposed to vote or they can call our office,” O’Brien said. “It’s important for people to remember the polling locations are not the same as they are in the primary or general election.”

In Bentonville, Brandon Davis, Grant Lightle, Kim Mertes, Jeff Odom and Samantha Sizemore Vernetti are candidates for Zone 3. Mertes is on the current board. Rick Gann, Ahmad Kewan, Rudy Upshaw and Katina Ziegler are candidates for Zone 6. Upshaw is a member of the current board. Wendi Cheatham, Douglas Fletcher, Leslie Rouse and Matthew Swanson are candidates for Zone 7.

Zones 1, 2, 4 and 5 have unopposed candidates who will join the board after the election and after any possible runoffs are held in Zones 3, 6 and 7.

There are no races in Rogers where Sterling Wilson will take the Zone 1 seat being vacated by Joye Kelley.

The only other contested school board race in the county is in Gravette where Jay Oliphant and Jheri C. Roberts are the candidates for Position 1.

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