Low Turnout In Early Voting For Washington County School Elections

FAYETTEVILLE -- Only 57 voters had cast early ballots in the Washington County school elections as of Friday afternoon.

The Washington County Clerk's Office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, the last day to vote early. There are about 110,000 registered voters in the county.

All uncontested candidates must receive at least one vote during the early voting period because polls in those school districts won't be open Tuesday. Arkansas law requires an unopposed candidate to receive at least one vote to be considered elected. If one vote isn't received, the seat is considered vacant. It's then up to the School Board in that district to fill the position by appointment.

If a millage doesn't receive at least one vote, the rate reverts to the previous year. The millage will stay the same if the rate is unchanged from the previous year. No school district in the county is seeking a millage increase.

The only contested races are in Springdale and Fayetteville.

Henry Hudson is challenging incumbent Kathy McFetridge for the Zone 3 seat on the Springdale School Board.

Polling places open Tuesday are at Elmdale Baptist Church for Springdale voters in Washington County and the Moose Lodge in Bethel Heights for Springdale voters in Benton County.

In Fayetteville, Tim Hollis is challenging incumbent Tim Hudson for the Zone 5 seat.

Polling places in Fayetteville open Tuesday are at Central United Methodist Church, Wiggins Methodist Church and Christ's Church.

Unopposed candidates are:

• Farmington: Jeff Oxford

• Elkins: Bryan Delozier

• Prairie Grove: Jerry Coyle and J.C. Dobbs, separate seats

• Lincoln: Kendra Moore

• Greenland: Patrick Anderson and Daniel Marzoni, separate seats

• West Fork: Brad Hardin