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The big day is finally here.
Voters from all over Baxter County will be heading to the polls to cast their vote in what may be one of the most important midterm elections of their lifetime.
Over the past year, voters have faced sharp rises in inflation that have caused food and fuel prices to skyrocket to 40-year highs. If the higher prices weren’t enough, harsh political rhetoric from leaders of both parties has continued to further divide Republicans and Democrats, making it even more difficult to solve the various crises that all voters are facing as the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns become apparent.
To make matters worse, the threat of war between the United States and Russia continues to linger behind the noise of this year’s elections as Ukraine continues to call on the U.S. for aid in its fight against Russia.
For messaging, the two parties could not be farther apart. Democrats have focused this mid-term cycle on issues like Roe V. Wade and the J6 Committee to refocus voters’ attention on anything other than inflation.
On the Republican side, a message of rising crime, open borders, and the need to fix a floundering economy has struck a chord with the public, pushing them into the rare political lead ahead of today’s vote.
The direction of the country now lies in the hands of average people.
In Arkansas, Republicans will most likely be the bigger winner tonight, keeping their majority in all branches of government. Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders is still leading in the polls against her candidate Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Chris Jones.
Both Sanders and Jones visited Mountain Home over the weekend in a last attempt to win over undecided voters. The visit marked the rare occasion where both candidates sat down and talked about specific issues facing Mountain Home and Baxter County residents.
Local Elections
While state-level elections will most likely keep everyone’s attention tomorrow, a few local races still need to be decided in Baxter County and Mountain Home.
A total of 9,435 votes, or 31.3% of the voters, have been cast in Baxter County as of end-of-day Monday.
The Baxter County Quorum Court still has open races between Angela DeGroote and Johnny Rickman for Justice of the Peace District 2 and Rick Steiner and Donnie Huffine for Justice of the Peace District 3.
Constable District 3 also has an open race between Kaleb Johnson and Dale Jones.
In the City of Big Flat, a three-way mayoral race between Glenda Wiseman, Charles Schmitt, and Casey McClanahan is still outstanding.
In Salesville, voters still need to decide the head-to-head mayoral race between Qicha VanLandingham and Tim D. Mayfield.
Mountain Home also has its fair share of elections to wrap up.
The fate of the next City Clerk still needs to be decided as candidates Scott Liles and Billy D. Austin make the final push toward victory today.
On the City Council, the Ward 2 Position 1 and Ward 3 Position 1 seats are awaiting their winners. Long-term incumbent Jennifer Baker hopes to retain her seat as she faces Jay Volkman in Ward 2 Position 1. In Ward 3 Position 1, Marshella J. Norell looks to unseat incumbent Paige Dillard Evans.
November 8, General Election Day polls open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. at the following locations and addresses:
- Baxter County Courthouse, 1 East 7th St. Mountain Home, AR.72653
- Big Flat, Big Flat City Hall, Hwy 14, Big Flat, AR. 72951
- Eastside Baptist Church, 718 East 9th St., Mountain Home, AR. 72653
- Henderson Fire Station, 12487 Hwy 62 East, Henderson, AR. 72544
- Lakeview City Hall, 14 Skyles Lane, Lakeview, AR
- Lone Rock Baptist Church, 6726 Push Mountain Road, Norfork, AR 72658
- Midway Safety Training Center, 170 Dillard Drive, Midway, AR. 72651
- Northeast Lakeside Fire Station, 5482 Hwy 62 East, Mountain Home, AR.72653
- Norfork First Baptist Church, 36 Second St., Norfork, AR.72658
- Salesville Community Center, 46 Gillespie St., Salesville, AR. 72653
- Baxter County Fairgrounds, 1507 Fairgrounds Drive, Mountain Home, AR. 72653
- Wesley United Methodist Church, 179 Memory Lane, Cotter, AR.72626
- Election Commission Headquarters, 213 E. 5th ST., Mountain Home, AR 72653
A list of appointed election officials, deputy clerks, or additional deputies hired to conduct the early voting can be located on the door of the Baxter County & Circuit Clerk’s office beginning Friday, Oct. 7.
Any person who objects to the service of a designated poll worker must make it known to the County Board of Election Commissioners within seven calendar days. The deadline for objections must be received before the date of the election.
Contact:
Baxter County Election Commissioners Judy Garner
Baxter County Courthouse (or call) 479-755-5412
1 East 7th St.
Mountain Home, AR 72653
Votes will be tabulated at the Baxter County Courthouse after the closing of the polls on Election Day.
Hearings will be held for Provisional Ballots that are rejected on the following Monday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The deadline to register to vote in the Primary Runoff Election was Oct.9.
Sample Ballots are available online at https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org.
