Arkansas voters have one final opportunity to cast an early ballot Monday before polls open statewide tomorrow for the primary election — a contest that, in many local races, may effectively decide who holds office before November even arrives.
Early voting closes today, March 2. On Election Day, Tuesday, March 3, polling locations across the state will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters are required by state law to present a valid photo ID.
The Republican primary operates this cycle under a semi-closed model following a shift in party rules, meaning participation is limited to registered Republicans and crossover voters who are not registered with another party.
Voters are weighing in on contested local administrative and law enforcement positions, along with a full slate of judicial seats in the 16th Judicial District. Because many local candidates filed exclusively as Republicans, winning Tuesday’s primary in several races is tantamount to winning the office outright.
Independence County voters will experience a notable change on Tuesday as election officials transition to a countywide vote-center model. Approved by the Independence County Election Commission, the new system allows any registered county voter to cast a ballot at any open vote center on Election Day, rather than being restricted to an assigned precinct.
Six vote centers will operate in Independence County on Tuesday: the Batesville Community Center at 1420 20th St., the Charlotte Fire Department, the Cushman Fire Department, the Pleasant Plains City Hall, the Newark Fire Department, and the Southside City Hall. The Batesville Community Center and Southside City Hall at 2180 Batesville Blvd. served as the county’s two early voting sites since Feb. 17.
For voters outside Independence County, polling locations are determined by precinct and set by each county election commission. Arkansans can find their nearest polling site through Voter View, an online resource available through the state.
Tuesday night, White River Now’s Chad Whiteaker will deliver results after the polls close, and we’ll have continuously updated coverage on White River Now and the free White River Now mobile app.
Coverage of the 2026 Primary on White River Now and its family of radio stations is sponsored by First Community Bank.
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