Election Commission sets poll locations for November
Two locations for early voting, registration deadline nearing
ralphhardin@gmail.com In just over six weeks, voters here in Crittenden County, across the state and around the nation will head to the polls for the 2022 Mid-Term Election.
Here in Crittenden County, the Crittenden County Election Commission has announced the dates and locations for county voters on Election Day as well as the dates and locations for Early voting.
Early Voting
The county will have two polling places for Early voting, which begins on Monday, Oct. 24:
• Marion Patriot Arena , 801 Carter Dr., in Marion
• First Baptist Church, 200 N Missouri St., West Memphis Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (No early voting on Sunday). By statute, early voting will end on Monday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m.
Registered voters may vote at either early voting site regardless of address.
Election Day Voting
Commissioners moved to consoidate and relocate several voting locations for this election cycle to improve efficency and ease the voting process.
“Please note that the poll location at Bonds has been consolidated with Horseshoe Lake Fire Station,” noted commission chair Frank Barton. “Also note that the poll location at Earle City Hall Annex has been consolidated with St Luke's Church.”
In addition to the consolidatations, some polling places have been moved.
“Please note that the poll location in Crawfordsville has been moved to the Crawfordsville Fire Department, 104 Swepston St.,” Barton said. “And please note that the poll location at Jeanette has also been consolidated with Crawfordsville Fire Department polling site.”
Turrell voters will also be casting their ballots at a different location this November. Longtime polling place, the W.R.
Golden Community Center will not be used this time around. The poll location in Turrell has been moved to the Turrell Fire Department, 160 Eureka St., in Turrell.
The complete list of polling sites on Election Day will include:
• West Memphis High School
• Eugene Woods Civic Center
• Calvary Baptist Church
• First Baptist Church
• 7th St Church of Christ
• Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center
• Wonder Boys Club
• Edmondson City Hall
• Gilmore City Hall
• Turrell Fire Department
• St. Luke Church
• Crawfordsville Fire Department
• Marion Patriot Arerna
• Marion Church of God
• Tabernacle of God (Hwy 77)
• Horseshoe Fire Station
• Jericho City Hall
• Anthonyville City Hall Unregistered voters and voters needing to change their voter registration address ahead of the registration deadline need to act quickly. The deadline to register in time for the Nov. 8 election is Monday, Oct.
10 by close of business.
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Photo courtesy of Facebook
Marion Economic Development Director Tracy Brick is the lone candidate in the race to replace Mayor Frank Fogleman atop the city’s municipal government in the upcoming Nov. 8 Midterm Elections. However, don’t let that discourage you from heading to the polls in a few weeks, as there are more than a dozen other key races to be decided, including local, county and sate races, as well as four importat ballot issues to weigh in on. VOTE (cont.)
Crittenden County voters will be selecting their preferences from among more than a dozen state and county races, as well as a number of voter-led and legislative-driven ballot measures and initiatives.
Here are the candidates for each state, county and municipal office, in ballot position order (note-uncontested races are not listed):
• Ramonda Henderson
• Nemi Matthews Sr.
• Donald Ray Stone
• Barbara Booker-Adkins
• Jaylen Smith
Earle City Council Position 2-1
• Ann Pickering-Philyaw
• Claudie M. Forrest
Earle City Council Position 4-1
• Angela R. Jones
• Demetrius Johnson Sr.
Edmondson Mayor
• Colt Boyd
• Sidney Thomas Prackett
• Art Gillard Jr.
Edmondson Recorder/Treasurer
• Hayward Shaw
• Larry Moore
Edmondson Town Council Position 2
• Oscar Matthew
• Gary Cordell
Edmondson Town Council Position 4
• Sona Johnson
• Travis Tate
Gilmore Town Council Position 1
• Cecil Elmore Jr.
• Kyle Kline
Jericho Town Council Position 2
• Betty Pollard
• Juanita Edwards
Jericho Town Council Position 3
• Don Payne
• Tanya Witt
Marion City Attorney
• Rachel R. Vaughn
• Christopher H. Crain
Marion City Council Position 1-2
• Vincent Adam Cupples
• Brad Moore
• David Bigger
Marion City Council Position 3-2
• Ray Nassar
• Leandra Schwartz
• Sherry Holliman
Sunset Mayor
• Erica Parker
• R. Lynn Brown
• Linsey Hayes
Turrell Mayor
• Dorothy A. Cooper
• Charles Edward Webster
West Memphis Mayor
• Marco McClendon
• Wayne Croom
• James Pulliaum
West Memphis City Treasurer
• Hubert Bass
• Charles Suiter
West Memphis City Council Position 2-1
• Gheric Bruce
• Justin Stokes
• Jaime Patterson
West Memphis City Council Position 3-1
• Jay Holder
• Charles Wheeless
West Memphis City Council Position 5-1
• Joyce Gray
• Angela Eason
• Helen Harris Elsewhere on the ballot, voters will select their choices in county and state races.
Crittenden County Clerk
• Linda Fritz
• Paula Brown County Coroner
•Martin Shea
• William Wolfe
Quorum Court JP District 9
•Vanesa Basemore
• Robert Thorne Jr.
U.S. Senate
• Senator John Boozman
• Natalie James
• Kenneth Cates
• Write-in Candidate
U.S. Congress District 1
• Congressman Rick Crawford
• Representative Monte Hodges
Attorney General
• Jesse Gibson
• Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffith
• Write-in Candidate
Auditor of State
• Treasurer of State Dennis Milligan
• Diamond Arnold-Johnson
• Simeon Snow
Commissioner of State Lands
• Tommy Land, COSL
• Darlene Goldi Gaines
Continued on Page 3 VOTE (cont.)
•Chris Jones
• Sarah Huckabee Sanders
• Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.
• Write-in Candidate
• Frank Gilbert
• Kelly Ross Krout
• Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
• Anna Beth Gorman
• Secretary of State John Thurston
• Pam Whitaker
• State Representative Mark Lowery
• Terry Fuller
• State Representative Reginald Murdock
State Supreme Court Associate Justice Pos. 2
• Supreme Court Associate
• Justice Robin Wynne
• Judge Chris Carnahan
• Sonia Fonticiella
• Martin E. Lilly Voters will also be asked to weigh in on four of ballot initiatives, including three proposed constitutional amendments and one voterled initiative.
Issue One
Issue 1 would allow state legislators to call themselves into special session.
Currently only the governor has the authority to call for a special session, a power specifically enumerated in the state constitution, hence the amendment, sent to the voters by the legsilature itself, to give themselves the authority to call themselves to the Capitol.
Issue Two
Issue 2 would increase the percentage of voters needed to pass a state constitutional amendment from a simple majority to 60 percent. It also require any voter-initiated acts to pass with a 60 percent majority.
These types of acts are proposed laws initiated by citizens instead of state lawmakers and can be enacted without the consent of the legislature.
Issue Three
Issue 3 would create the Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment, which says state government could burden a person’s freedom of religion only if it demonstrates that doing so “is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.” How this is needed with the existence of the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution already in place has not been addressed.
Issue Four
Issue 4 would decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana for persons 21 years of age and older within certain regulations and guidelines. The initiative would address the cultivation, sale and use of marijuana while recognizing its continued illegal status at the federal level. The issue is still set to be reviewed by the Arkansa Supreme Court and although it will appear on the ballot, it is possible that the votes could not be counted.
File photos
Election night 2020 was conducted under rigid COVID-19 protocols. While the pandemic is still a concern, it is not expected to have as big an impact on the voting process this November in the Midterm elections.
