BENTONVILLE -- Northwest Arknsas election officials hope a big early voting turnout will make for a smooth primary election day March 1.
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Early voting begins today and ends Feb. 29 in Benton and Washington counties. Both counties have expanded opportunities for early voting for the primary election.
Benton County early voting
Early voting begins today and runs through Feb. 29.
Benton County early voting locations for the March 1 preferential primaries and nonpartisan general election:
• County clerk’s offices at 215 E. Central Ave., Suite 217, in Bentonville, 1428 W. Walnut St. in Rogers and 707 S. Lincoln St. in Siloam Springs will hold early voting 8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 29.
• Iberia Bank, 706 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 22-26.
• Riordan Hall, 3 Riordan Road in Bella Vista: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 22-26.
• Intrust Bank, 3300 Market St., Suite 130 in Rogers: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 22-26.
• Gravette Civic Center, 401 Charlotte St. S.E. in Gravette: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26.
• Rogers/Lowell Chamber of Commerce, 506 Enterprise Drive in Lowell: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 22-26.
• Centerton Fire House, 755 W. Centerton Blvd. in Centerton: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26.
• NEBCO Community Building, 17823 Marshall St. in Garfield: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26.
Source: Benton County clerk’s office
Washington County early voting
Early voting begins today at seven voting centers in Washington County. Paper ballots are only available during early voting in the county clerk’s office at the courthouse. Dates and hours vary by location. The preferential primary and nonpartisan judicial election is March 1.
County Courthouse, 280 N. College Ave., Fayetteville
County clerk’s office 3rd floor
Paper ballots available only at this location.
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-Feb. 26 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 27
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 29
Quorum courtroom, main floor
Touchscreen only
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 27
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 29
Boys & Girls Club, 560 N. Rupple Road, Fayetteville
Touchscreen Only
Hours 8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26
Medical Arts Pharmacy, 2515 E. Huntsville Road, Fayetteville
Touchscreen Only
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26
Prairie Grove City Hall, 955 E. Douglas St., Suite 4
Touchscreen Only
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26
Rodeo Community Center, 1423 E. Emma St., Springdale
Touchscreen Only
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. today-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 22-26 and 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 27
Arvest Ballpark, 3000 S. 56th St., Springdale
Touchscreen Only
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. today-Friday
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Feb. 22-25 and 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 26
Source: Washington County Election Commission
In Washington County, voters can take advantage of several additional early voting locations, said Jennifer Price, election coordinator.
"We've never done offsite early voting for the primary," Price said.
The decision to expand early voting for the primary was based on two factors, Price said.
"We know the interest is going to be there," she said. "We compare this more to the 2008 election because we don't have an incumbent president. Second, the election date was moved up to March 1. This is Arkansas, and you never know what the weather will be like this time of year, so we wanted to make sure there were more opportunities for voters across the county to cast their ballots."
Russ Anzalone, chairman of the Benton County Election Commission, said early voting is a growing success and election officials want to keep that momentum going. In 2012, the county had six early voting locations, including the county clerk's offices in Bentonville, Rogers and Siloam Springs. In 2014, three more offsite early voting locations were added, and one more has been opened for this year's primary election.
"In the last general election, we had 48 percent of Benton County vote early," Anzalone said. "We would hope to surpass that in the primary.
"We want people to vote early so they won't be hindered by long lines on election day or by inclement weather. That's the primary purpose of having two weeks of early voting."
Candidates for local office say they've found area residents favor early voting. Will Hanna, who faces Bob Bland in the Republican Party race for the District 11 seat on the Benton County Quorum Court, said early voting is a frequent topic of conversation.
"The short answer is yes our people like early voting," Hanna said. "They appreciate the convenience of not having to stand in line and not having to go back to their local polling place to vote."
Hanna encourages people to take advantage of early voting.
"I am sometimes depressed at the number of people who just say 'I don't vote,'" he said.
Barry Moehring, competing with Bob Clinard for the Republic nomination for Benton County judge, also touts early voting in his conversations with voters.
"I think awareness is pretty high," he said.
Moehring said people seem familiar with the early voting process. He also has heard people talk about the potential for winter weather on March 1 as a reason to vote early.
"I think the overall turnout will be higher," Moehring said. "I expect a good turnout both in early voting and on election day."
NW News on 02/16/2016