TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
BY ARKANSAS REPRESENTATIVE CAROL DALBY
E lection Day may still seem a long way off, but now is the time for Arkansans to make sure they are ready for the November General Election. On Tuesday, November 3, voters will choose who represents them at the local, state, and federal levels. Depending on where you live, your ballot may also include local races and issues that directly affect your community. We often hear that voting is a civic duty. I think it is also one of the simplest and most important ways we can have a say in what happens in our communities. As a state representative, I see every day how decisions made in government affect our daily lives. The issues we debate at the Capitol aren’t abstract. They involve our schools, roads, taxes, public safety, and services our families and communities depend on. Those decisions begin with the people you elect to represent you. That’s why I am always surprised when I hear someone say their vote doesn’t matter. If you spend much time around the Arkansas House, you know just how close elections can be. We have had several House races decided by fewer than 50 votes. In 2020,
a primary runoff for an Arkansas House seat was decided by a single vote. One voter staying home or deciding to go to the polls really can make a difference. The numbers from our last general election also tell an important story. In 2024, Arkansas had 1,828,133 registered voters, but 1,187,243 cast a ballot. That’s a turnout of 64.94%. That means more than 600,000 registered voters did not participate. And because turnout is typically lower when there isn’t a presidential race at the top of the ballot, it is especially important to remind people that state and local elections matter, too. In many ways, those are the elections that can have the most noticeable impact on your everyday life. The people elected to state and local offices make decisions about issues you encounter close to home. You may even know some candidates personally or see them at the grocery store, at a ballgame, or at a community event. The good news is that Arkansas voters have plenty of time and several opportunities to participate this year. The deadline to register to vote in the General Election is Monday, October 5. Early voting begins October 19 and is
available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Early voting ends at 5 p.m. Monday, November 2. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. If a county or municipal race requires a runoff, the General Runoff Election will be held December 1. The registration deadline for that election is November 2. Between now and November, take a few minutes to make sure you are prepared. Check your voter registration. Find out where you vote. Take a look at a sample ballot and learn about the candidates and issues you will be asked to consider. Then decide whether voting early or voting on Election Day works best for you. Voting does not take much time, but the people we elect will make decisions that affect our state and communities for years to come. I have seen elections come down to a handful of votes. I have seen one come down to just one. So when someone tells me their vote does not matter, I know better. It does. Make a plan to vote this November.
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BUSINESS & POLITICS
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