Arkansas Early Vote Up 22% From 2022 Midterm After Five Days as Democrats Hold Voter Protection Press Conferences Across Natural State

Following record early voting turnout, Arkansas Democrats held three voter protection press conferences across the state this week, in Maumelle, Springdale and West Memphis, to promote our Voter Protection Hotline (1-833-DEM-VOTE).

LITTLE ROCK - Early voting in Arkansas is running 22% ahead of the 2022 midterm after five days, and voters under 35 have cast 64% more early ballots, according to Secretary of State data through Friday.

Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Col. Marcus Jones (Ret.) talked about the turnout Friday in West Memphis, at the last of three voter protection press conferences the party held this week. Democrats also stood with local candidates at early voting sites in Maumelle on Wednesday and Springdale on Thursday to promote the party's hotline, 1-833-DEM-VOTE (1-833-336-8683).

After five days, 256,087 Arkansans had voted early or absentee, compared with 210,635 at the same point in 2022. Voters under 35 cast 24,136 of those ballots, up from 14,706.

The biggest jump of any House district is in Springdale. Early voting in House District 9 has nearly doubled, from 506 votes at this point in 2022 to 993. Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen lost that seat in 2022 by 109 votes, then won it back in 2024 by more than 470.

Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen said Thursday at the press conference in Springdale:

"People are making time for this in the middle of work and school and everything else, and I'm grateful to every one of them. I know how much every one of those votes count."

In House District 19, early voting is up 36%. Jamie Atkinson, the Democratic candidate there, said Thursday in Springdale:

"This race will be decided by whether you make the time to vote. So please, go vote and bring somebody with you. If anything happens to go wrong, please call 833-DEM-VOTE."

Senate District 13 has the highest early turnout of the state's 35 Senate districts. As of Friday, 20.7% of its registered voters had already voted.

Allison Grigsby Sweatman, the Democratic candidate for Senate District 13, said Wednesday in Maumelle:

"It's a busy time for everyone right now, but so many of you, record numbers of you, haven't stopped, and you've still made time to cast your vote early."

In Maumelle's House District 71, early voting is up 40%. Cassandra Mayes, the Democratic candidate there, said this is what she's hearing from voters:

"I've knocked many doors over the last several months, and when I talk to the voters out here in District 71, their major concern is their ability to pay their bills."

In West Memphis, voters had to go to court two years ago to get an early voting site in their own city. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled four days before early voting began. Act 978 of 2025, sponsored by Rep. Jessie McGruder, now requires early voting in every Arkansas city over 15,000 people. Early voting in McGruder's Senate District 9 is up 26%. He won his House seat in 2024 by 123 votes.

McGruder said Friday in West Memphis:

"I was blessed to pass legislation to ensure that there is a voting location in West Memphis, but I need you to do your job. I did my job. I need everyone to get out and vote."

In House District 35, which McGruder holds now, early voting is up 33%. Audrey Willis, the Democratic candidate for the seat, said:

"People don't want their representative to be a rubber stamp for the governor. They want somebody that will stand and fight with them, even when the cameras aren't on."

In Springdale, former State Representative and Political Strategist for the Democratic Party Dr. Megan Godfrey attributed the turnout to a desire for change. Dr. Godfrey said:

"Voters want leaders who are going to make our lives better and more affordable. We believe those leaders are Arkansas Democrats."

Callers to the hotline reach a trained member of the party's voter protection team, and the line is open to any Arkansas voter, regardless of party, whenever polls are open.

Abby Bunch, the party's voter protection director, said Thursday in Springdale:

"People are walking into polls in bigger numbers than we have seen, and we want to make sure that people feel comfortable just in case they hit a snag or if they have any questions."

Bunch also asked voters to check their ballots before they print them:

"We also encourage you to make sure to check that screen after you have selected your candidates, before you print your ballot, just to make sure that all of your selections have been made correctly."

Arkansas Democrats Chair Col. Marcus Jones (Ret.) said:

"The line is open whenever polling is open, through Election Day on November 3rd. If anybody tells you that you need to leave without voting, don't do it. Ask for a provisional ballot and then call us."

Early voting runs through 5 p.m. Monday, November 2. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and polls are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters can look up their registration and polling places at VoterView, voterview.ar-nova.org.

Find the video of our press conference in Central Arkansas,NWA, and West Memphis on our Youtube channel.

Early voting by the numbers (through Friday, Oct. 23)

• Statewide: 256,087 early and absentee votes, up 22% from this point in 2022.
• Voters under 35: 24,136, up 64%.
• Pulaski County: 43,361, up 43%. At 18.1% of registered voters, it has the highest early turnout of any county.
• Senate District 13: 20.7% of registered voters, the highest of any Senate district. House District 71 in Maumelle is up 40%.
• House District 9, Springdale: 993, up 96%, the biggest increase of any House district. House District 19 is up 36%.
• Senate District 9: 6,051, up 26%. Crittenden County is up 24%.
• Phillips County: 16.4% of registered voters, about the same as at this point in 2024.
• Benton County: 30,042, up 37%.
• Washington County: 21,926, up 42%.

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