Early Voting Begins for Primary Election

RISON - Early voting for the 2024 preferential primary election for both the Democratic and Republican nominees as well as the non partisan judicial election is currently underway at the Hall-Morgan Veterans Building located at 404 Sycamore Street across from the Cleveland County Courthouse in Rison.Polls for early voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, and from 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. on Saturuday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, March 3. On the final day of early voting on Monday, March 4, the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.On election day, Tuesday, March 5, polling sites across the county will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.Those voters participating in either the Democratic or Republican primary will find multiple candidates listed for U.S. president. Many of those listed have formally ended their presidential campaigns but remain on the ballot since they had already filed for the office.This election cycle does not include elections for state constitutional offices, county judges or mayors. Those positions were electedin 2022 to serve fouryear terms.Here is a breakdown on the contested and uncontested races for both parties as well as the non partisan judicial election: Democratic PrimaryVoters will find six candidates on the ballot for the Democratic nominee for U.S. President. Those names will be listed in the following order: Frank Lozada, Mando Perez-Serrato, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips an Stephen P. Lyons. In addition, many voters in Cleveland County will also be deciding on who the Democratic nominee will be for the District 96 representative to the Arkansas House of Representatives: Horace Ray Charles or Robin G. Clark. The winner of that primary will face Republican incumbent Sonia Eubanks Barker of Smackover in the Nov. 5 general election.Geographically, District 96 is the second-largest state House district in the state. It includes portions po...