Early voting finishes strong

The final day of early voting on Monday also turned out to be the busiest day of voting in Garland County, according to Ginna Watson, Garland County Election Commission chairwoman.

According to Watson, about 550 people had voted early at the Garland County Election Commission building on Ouachita Avenue by 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The single-day tally was about 100 votes more than the next-highest early voting day, Watson said.

"It's been a really nice day, with lots of people voting, and we still have about a half hour left today," Watson said in a telephone interview late Monday afternoon.

According to the Arkansas secretary of state's office, 94,248 people had voted early statewide as of Monday afternoon.

Today is Election Day for the preferential primaries and nonpartisan judicial general election.

A total of 24 voting sites will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today, Watson said.

In one of the key races on the ballot today, four Republicans -- Scotty Dodd, Ronald Dunn, Fred Hawthorn, and Thomas Hickok -- seek the Republican nomination for Garland County sheriff.

The winner will face Rodney Neighbors, a Democrat, and Mike McCormick, an Independent, in the general election in November.

If a runoff is necessary, it would be held June 10, with early voting to start June 3.

Another key race on the ballot is for Garland County Circuit Court judge, Division 2, in the nonpartisan judicial general election. The candidates for the position are Michael Crawford, Cecilia Dyer, John Howard and Wade Naramore.

If a runoff is needed for the judge's race, it would be held during the Nov. 4 general election.

Two races will be decided today because the candidates are from a single political party, with no challengers in November.

The race for state House District 22 is between two Republicans, Mickey Gates and Donald Laymon, as is the race for Garland County assessor, between Republicans Shannon Sharp and Gary West.

Constable races of interest include Hot Springs Township, with Eric T. Grimmett and Richard Pratchard on the Republican ballot, and Whittington Township, between Democrats Marvin Burt and Jackie Turner.

Other races of local interest, which will go forward to the general election, include the 4th Congressional District race between Republicans Tommy Moll and Bruce Westerman, with the winner facing Ken Hamilton, a Libertarian and James Lee Witt, a Democrat, in November. The winner of the Republican primary in state Senate District 14 race between Jerry Neal and Bill Sample will face George Pritchett, an Independent, in November.

Asa Hutchinson and Curtis Coleman are vying for the Republican nomination for governor, while Mike Ross and Lynette "Doc" Bryant are seeking the Democratic nomination.

Local on 05/20/2014

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