It's Election Day in Arkansas: Where to vote, what's on the ballot

Arkansas voters on Tuesday have their chance to cast their ballots and make their voices heard in 2022.

In a year of inflation, ongoing debates over abortion, including the fall of Roe v. Wade, proposed recreational marijuana legalization for adults, and the outlooks for economic development during a time of rising housing and food costs, voters in Arkansas and across the country will decide key races in Tuesday's midterm and local elections.

Early voting numbers were released Tuesday. There were 19,676 early votes cast, or 27% of Sebastian County registered voters, said Meghan Hassler, Sebastian County election coordinator.

On the ballot in Fort Smith

Fort Smith voters will decide three board of directors at-large seats for positions 5, 6, and 7.

Incumbent Director Robyn Dawson faces Christina Catsavis for position 5.

Director Kevin Settle, 48, is challenged by Drew Smith, 31, for the position 6 seats.

For position 7, Jackson Goodwin, 25, is running against incumbent Neal Martin, 46.

A north Fort Smith State House District 49 race is between Democrat Jay Richardson, the incumbent, and challenger Max Avery, a Republican businessman.

A Fort Smith state senate seat will be decided Tuesday in Senate District 27 between Rep. Justin Boyd and Democrat Rebecca Ward. Boyd is currently serving a fourth term as a state representative in House District 77.

Senate District 27 includes parts of south Fort Smith east of U.S. 71 and north of State Highway 45, west of Massard Road and north of Zero Street, and including all of Chaffee Crossing.

Statewide races in Arkansas

For voters across Arkansas, the governor's race will be decided between Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Chris Jones, and Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.

The candidates have made recent stops in Fort Smith and the River Valley to campaign. George's Restaurant was packed Monday for Sanders' visit.

And there are four state questions on the ballot, including the proposal to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, Issue 4.

More:What questions are on the Nov. 8 ballots in Arkansas?

Other questions include Issue 2, which if approved would require any vote that makes a ballot from an initiative petition harder to pass and would require 60% of the vote for approval.

Issue 1 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the general assembly to convene in "extraordinary session."

And Issue 3 is titled "The Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment" to "provide that government may never burden a person's freedom of religion except in the rare circumstance that the government demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is in furtherance of a compelling government interest."

The race for lieutenant governor is between the current Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Republican, and Democrat Kelly Ross Krout and Libertarian Frank Gilbert.

And for attorney general, the current Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, Republican, is running against Democrat Jesse Gibson.

U.S. Senate and Congress races in Arkansas

In the race for U.S. Senate in Arkansas, Republican U.S. Sen.. John Boozman faces Democrat Natalie James, Libertarian Kenneth Cates, and write-in Independents Richard Gant and James Garner.

For U.S. Congress in Arkansas District 3, Rep. Steve Womack, Republican, faces Libertarian Michael J. Kalagias and Democrat Lauren Mallet-Hays.

Sebastian County voting

There was a notable increase in early voting at polling places in Sebastian County, which ended Monday, election workers said. All absentee ballots must be received by Tuesday.

Fort Smith Mayor George McGill is running unopposed. Republican Susie Hassett is unopposed for the seat of circuit clerk in Sebastian County.

In Greenwood, Doug Kinslow and John Bailey are running for mayor.

In Barling, John B. Maness is running for mayor against Greg Murray.

In Central City, Tonya Fagan and Terry Wallace are running for the mayor's seat.

Where to vote in Sebastian County

Sebastian County polling centers will be open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

American Legion, 4901 Midland Blvd.

Baker Senior Center, 3600 N. Albert Pike Ave.

Ben Geren Park Tornado Shelter, 7200 Zero Street.

Bonanza Assembly of God, 701 McConnell Street, Bonanza.

Cliff Terrace Assembly of God , 3301 S. 66 Street

Cornerstone Free Will Baptist, 29201 State Highway 22, Charleston.

Creekmore Park Recreation Center, 3301 S. M Street.

East Side Baptist Church, 2710 Massard Road.

First Southern Baptist Central City, 12 W. Central Ave., Central City.

Forefront Church, 10300 Jinny Lind Blvd.

Grace Lutheran Church, U.S. 71, Greenwood.

Grand Avenue Baptist Church, 3900 Grand Ave.

Greenwood Fairgrounds, 530 E. Knoxville, Greenwood.

Hackett Fire Department, 205 Highway 10 SW, Hackett.

Hartford Fire Center, 201 S. Broadway, Hartford.

Huntington City Hall, 223 E. Broadway, Huntington.

Lavaca First Baptist Church, 100 W. Main Street, Lavaca.

Mansfield City Hall, 200 Sebascott Street, Mansfield.

Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Building, 1901 N. Greenwood Ave.

Midland City Hall, 204 N. 3 Street, Midland.

Milltown-Washburn Fire Department, 6573 E. State Highway 252, Greenwood

Nelson-Hall Beckman Center, 2101 N. 31 Street.

Orr Elementary School Tornado Shelter, 3609 Phoenix Ave.

Ramsey Junior High Tornado Shelter, 3201 Jenny Lind Road.

Rye Hill Baptist Church , 11501 U.S. 71 S.

Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1301 Frank Street, Barling.

Southside Senior Center, 2700 Cavanaugh Road.

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal, 2701 Old Greenwood Road.

St. John's Episcopal Church, 215 N. 6.

St. Luke Lutheran Church, 5401 Free Ferry Lane.

Windsor Library, 4701 Windsor Drive.

Witcherville Community Building, 18 Buckner Way, Huntington.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Time to vote in Arkansas