Voter turnout in Washington County fell within state projections Tuesday, while a smaller percentage of eligible voters in Benton County cast ballots than had been projected statewide.
Washington County voter turnout in this year’s primaries and general election nonpartisan contests totaled 23.58%, according to unofficial numbers. Benton County voter turnout for Tuesday’s preferential primaries and non-partisan judicial contests totaled just 16.43%, according to Benton County’s unofficial numbers.
The Arkansas Secretary of State’s office projected March 3 primary election voter turnout at 20 to 25 percent of the state’s 1.8 million registered voters, according to a Feb. 15 article published in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The prediction was published ahead of early voting beginning Feb. 17.
Arkansas’ voter turnout rates have historically been lower than those of many states across the country. In 2022, the most recent midterm election year, Arkansas’ general election voter turnout (November) was 41.5 percent, while the national average was 46.2 percent, according to data from the U.S. Elections Project.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that as of late last week, Washington County voter turnout was tracking to exceed that of 2022 early voting. Through Friday (Feb. 27), Washington County had seen 13,402 votes cast since early voting began. On the same day in the 2022 primaries, only 1,793 votes were cast. Many Washington County ballots included a total of nine questions related to bonds to fund Fayetteville city projects. The first Fayetteville bond question determined if the other bond ballot issues would be relevant. According to 5 News online (KFSM), Fayetteville looks to authorize the refinancing of existing 2019 bonds, such as the 1-cent sales tax, and continue the city’s current repayment structure as a financial foundation. Eight projects that would be funded by those bonds then appeared as separate questions for voters:
- water and sewer infrastructure
- parks and recreation
- animal services facility and related projects
- pedestrian infrastructure
- road improvements
- recycling and sustainability
- aquatic recreation center
- fire safety.
Fayetteville School District voters also are being asked to approve extending the existing millage rate (property tax charges) to allow the district to advance its 10-year facility plan by two years, allowing scheduled projects to begin in the summer of 2026 instead of waiting until 2028. The millage extension passed.
Benton County’s early voter turnout appeared on track with 2022, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Sunday. Kim Dennison, Benton County’s election coordinator, said as of Friday afternoon, the county had recorded a total of about 12,952 votes since early voting began Feb. 17. In 2022, Benton County had 17,429 early votes cast.
A Civic Health Index report issued in 2023 found that Arkansas ranked lower than other states in voter participation, political activity beyond elections, and connectedness to families, neighbors and communities. “Arkansas has the lowest voter registration and voter turnout rates in national elections of any U.S. state, and voter turnout has declined in the past two generations,” according to the report. “Registration and turnout rates are lower for men than for women, and are particularly low among Black Arkansans, individuals with lower levels of educational attainment, and younger generations.”
