If you are looking to participate in the upcoming midterm primary elections and cast a vote on certain local and judicial races and questions, there are some things you need to know. The deadline to register is Feb. 2, and the primary election date is March 3. Early voting begins on Feb. 17.
How do you register? You must fill out a Voter Registration Application and return it to the appropriate office. which, for local residents, can be found at https://bentoncountyar.gov/vote/registration/ , and https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/county-clerk/voting/voter-registration. Once you have completed the registration application, allow two weeks for processing. You may check your voter registration status by checking VoterView, https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/voterview, on the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website.
What are the requirements to register? You must be an Arkansas resident for at least 31 days prior to the election; you must be 18 before the day of the election; you must not be a convicted felon; and you must be a U.S. citizen.
Where do you go to vote? There are 35 locations across Benton County where you are able to cast your ballot on March 3. If you would like to cast your vote while on campus, you can go to the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies, 1000 S. E. Eagle Way, Bentonville, Arkansas. All voting locations will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on election day. When at the voting centers, be sure to follow the dress code. That means do not wear any party-affiliated paraphernalia. This includes hats, shirts, pens, and stickers. If you fail to comply with the dress code, you will be asked to change your clothes or remove the items.
There are numerous offices up for election during the political party primaries, nonpartisan judicial general election, and the annual school election. If you would like to find a list of offices that are up for election, and the candidates who are running for those positions in Benton County, you may refer to the listings at https://bentoncountyar.gov/vote/candidates/ or Washington County information at https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/election-commission/march-3-2026-primary-information.
There are three seats on the NWACC Board of Trustees up for election. Incumbent Ashley Figer Pointer of Bentonville, appointed to the board in May 2025, faces challenger Angela Calix of Bella Vista in a race for the Zone 1 seat. Incumbent trustee Ron Branscum of Rogers vies for re-election to the Zone 5 seat and faces a challenge from Peter Bailey of Bentonville. Trustee Amber Latimer is unopposed in seeking re-election to a Zone 8 seat. All of the positions carry a six-year term.
If you are unable to vote on the designated day, ensure to file for absentee voting. To vote with an absentee ballot, you must be avoidably absent from your voting location on the date of the election, a member of uniformed service or family member, a US citizen residing outside of the US, or unable to attend due to injury or illness. If you meet these requirements, go to https://bentoncountyar.gov/vote/absentee-voting/ and fill out the application. You must submit your application the Friday before the election. Once you have submitted it, and it’s approved, it will be valid for one calendar year.
If you have any other questions regarding the voting process, eligibility or candidates, visit https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/county-clerk/voting, https://bentoncountyar.gov/vote/elections/ or https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections
