Only Republicans, ‘Optional’ Can Vote in GOP Primary

RISON - Anyone who is registered as a Democrat will have to change their party affiliation to  Republican or “optional” in order to vote in the upcoming March 3 Republican primary election. John Appleget, chairman of the Cleveland County Election Commission, said he wanted to let voters know about the change before the primary election. The Republican Party of Arkansas voted this past summer to hold “closed” primaries in the 2026 election cycle, which means only those voters who are registered as Republicans or “optional” will be able to vote in the election.The Democratic Party of Arkansas has stated it has no current plans to close its primary, which means its primary election will be open to all registered voters regardless of party registration.Appleget said he wanted to make voters aware of the change because all the local elections will be decided in the Republican primary since there are no other candidates running from any other party. Those elected March 3 will have a clear path to their respective office since they will be unopposed in the November general election.Voters in Cleveland County will decide on a new county judge and sheriff in the primary. The mayor’s race in Kingsland will also be determined in the Republican primary.Appleget said voters who change their party affiliation to Republican or “optional’”/non-affiliated to vote in the primary can and then switch back once the election is over.Billy Bowlin, the Cleveland County election coordinator, said there are 170 voters in Cleveland County registered as Democrats and 671 registered at Republicans. He said voters who did not make a declaration when registering to vote are automatically declared as “optional.” Bowlin said there are about 3,400 voters in the county that are labeled as optional.Bowlin said those who want to change their party affiliation will need to complete a new voter registration ...