Voter turnout at polls expected to be dismal; runoff issues varied
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/228259/
Voters stayed away from polls in record numbers last month.
And officials with the Arkansas secretary of state’s office expect another dismal turnout during today’s runoff and special elections.
Issues on the ballots, in addition to various county and municipal runoffs, include proposed tax increases for four school districts, three sales-tax referendums and an increase in the annual dues of the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department.
Also, voters in Hot Springs will decide upon the restructuring of existing bonds to pay for an updated climate control system at the Mid-America Science Museum.
Voters will also select three Arkansas House of Representative candidates in Districts 7, 16, and 58.
Only 18 percent of the state’s 1. 6 million registered voters cast ballots during the May 20 primary election, said Natasha Naragon, a spokesman for the secretary of the state.
That represents the lowest turnout since 1972, when the state’s election division began keeping records. The previous low was 19 percent in 2002.
“What’s on the ballot drives voter turnout,” Naragon said. “In May, there was not a single, high-profile statewide contested race.”
Candidates for the District 16 representative’s seat, which represents central Pine Bluff, are anticipating low turnout while doing last-minute campaigning.
“I’ve started calling everyone to get out and vote,” said Onetha Wright, the wife of Delton Wright, 52, the owner of a tobacco store. “We have a list of those who usually go back and vote [in runoffs. ]”
James Word, 53, the director of housing for the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, received an endorsement from Donald Warren, a Pine Bluff attorney, who finished third in the three-way race for the District 16 position.
Word did not return a telephone message Monday.
“Historically, runoffs have extremely low turnout,” Warren said. “I’m encouraging everyone who voted for me to support [Word ]. There’s no issues to drive voters out. The numbers won’t be there.”
Yancy Kyle, 28, the Union County Emergency Management director, faces Garry Smith, 56, of Harmony Grove, in the District 7 representative race. Smith is the owner of a plumbing and electrical supply company.
District 7 is composed of parts of Union and Ouachita counties.
L. J. Bryant, 21, a former aide to state Senate President Pro Tempore Jack Critcher, D-Batesville, will oppose Jody Dickinson, 67, a retired teacher and wife of Rep. Tommy Dickinson, D-Newport, who cannot seek the District 7 seat because of term limits.
Both candidates are from Newport.
Millage tax increases are proposed for school districts in Atkins, Green Forest, Greenland and Siloam Springs. The Weiner School District is asking voters to approve refinancing a portion of its bond debt for facility updates.
Dallas County is looking to extend a 1-percent countywide sales tax for three years to pay for maintenance and operation of the Dallas County Medical Center in Fordyce.
In Star City, voters will cast ballots on a three-fourth percent sales and use tax to retire bonds. The tax would replace an existing three-fourth percent sales tax.
Voters in Brinkley will decide to replace an existing 1-percent sales tax to be used for municipal improvements.
And in Hot Springs, votes are asked to decide whether to restructure existing bonds to pay for a new $ 1. 2 million heating, air conditioning and ventilation unit and a security and fire alarm system at the Mid-America Science Museum.
“We have an antiquated system that must be manually put in place every day,” museum director Andy Marquart said. “If our building supervisor doesn’t show up to work, we don’t have heating and air that day.”
If the bond issue is approved, Marquart said, the museum will be able to receive Smithsonian Institute exhibits that must be kept in temperature-controlled areas.
“We are literally holding our [air conditioning ] vents open with Channellock pliers,” he said.