Overview
- Early voting began Tuesday for the March 3 primary, with Saline County’s clerk reporting a slow first day.
- The secretary of state’s office projects turnout of roughly 20–25% of Arkansas’ 1.8 million registered voters.
- Contested local Republican races drew interest, including a four-way Saline County sheriff primary and a GOP race for state Senate District 16.
- Voter interviews highlighted concerns over health care costs, road conditions, and immigration enforcement, with mixed views of President Trump and Arkansas’ GOP delegation.
- A newly enforced GOP rule barring registered Democrats from voting in Republican primaries prompted at least one voter to switch registration, while Democrats are weighing a governor primary between Fred Love and Supha Xayprasith-Mays.