Commission Urges Voters to be Informed
BY MELANIE BUCK –
The Polk County Election Commission is encouraging voters to be informed before hitting the polls during the 2016 General Election season. The Polk County Election Commission is encouraging voters to be informed ahead of time to help “lessen projected long lines and wait times at the polls.” The ballot is exceptionally lengthy this year and has many candidates and issues for voters to consider.
In an advisory issued by the Commission, it stated, “These ballot issues are complex and all require careful reading for understanding. You won’t be able to make an informed decision without careful review of each of these measures before you cast your vote. Waiting to decide which way to vote until you are standing in front of your voting machine will cause lengthy delays for you and your fellow voters.
The Polk County Election Commission recently issued the following recommendations to voters:
- Please study each ballot measure in advance and determine your votes. Please taker your notes with you so you can expeditiously cast your chosen vote. Note that it is illegal to discuss specific candidates or ballot issues with anyone while you are in the polling place or within 100 feet of the main entrance.
- You may want to take advantage of the two weeks of Early Voting and avoid the General Election Day crowds. Anyone registered to vote in Polk County may vote during the Early Election period.
- If you choose to wait until November 8, just go to your designated polling place between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., as usual.
There are 17 polling places scattered around Polk County. All polling stations remain in the same locations, with exception to the Potter station, which has moved to Bethel Baptist Church on Hwy. 375 West in New Potter. “To help expedite the voting process while maintaining security and accuracy, your County Election Commission has added additional voting machines and poll workers. Remember, your vote counts,” Ray added.
To become more informed on the candidates and issues that appear on the ballot, the University of Arkansas has an non-partisan, unbiased view on each, on their election website at: http://www.uaex.edu/business-communities/voter-education/default.aspx. You can also visit www.ballotpedia.com.
If a voter is unable to study the ballot before arriving at the polls, sample ballots are hung on the walls of each polling station for review.
Early voting begins Monday, October 24th and will be held at the Polk County Office Complex at 606 Pine Street. Early voting hours will be Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Absentee ballots are currently being mailed out to those who live out of town. If you would like to request an absentee ballot, contact the County Clerk’s Office. For those who wish to pick up their absentee ballot as opposed to being mailed, those will be available beginning October 24th.
For more information, contact County Clerk Terri Harrison at 394-8123 or go by her office, located inside the Polk County Courthouse.
Links to Pulse articles concerning each of the Issues on the ballot are below:
http://mypulsenews.com/arkansas-voters-to-consider-two-medical-marijuana-issues-on-november-ballet/
http://mypulsenews.com/voters-to-consider-longer-terms-in-issue-1/
http://mypulsenews.com/issue-3-remains-4-and-5-shot-down/
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
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