Voters in the Nov. 5 election cast their ballots at voting machines in Walmart Auditorium./Photo by Nadia Moutria

By Kay King

Editor-In-Chief

The first United States of America Presidential Election to be held after the reallocation of the electoral college votes following the 2020 redistricting cycle was held on Nov. 5. This Reallocation, meaning to distribute again, is based on the 2020 census and will remain in place for the 2028 Presidential Election as well. The State of Arkansas will continue to have six votes in the Electoral College. 

Turnout in Benton County was slightly above 67%. Some political observers thought this could be a year when newer voters in Gen Z had an impact on the election’s outcome. Most of those voting cast ballots in early voting, but the NWACC campus was the site of one of 37 voting centers on election day. (A video report by Otis Leimbach is linked below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRqSrAsL8mc

Arkansas ballots contained seven tickets vying for U.S. President and Vice President. The ballot included Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware representing the Green Party,  Kamala D. Harris and Tim Waltz representing the Democratic Party, Donald J. Trump and JD Vance representing the Republican Party, Peter Sonski and Lauren Oak representing the American Solidarity Party, Michael Wood and John G. Pietrowski representing the Prohibition Party, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat representing the Libertarian Party, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Nicole Shanahan running independently. The Trump-Vance ticket won Arkansas’ six electoral votes and 277 electoral votes nationwide, according to The Associated Press projections. Some states still had not been called as of 10 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 6) so the count could grow.

Each U.S. congressional district seat in Arkansas was contested this election. Vying for the U.S. House, Arkansas, District 3 were the incumbent Steve Womack with the Republican Party, Caitlin Draper with the Democratic Party, and Bobby Wilson with the Liberation Party. Womack was elected to an eighth term in Tuesday voting. Republicans Rick Crawford (District 1), French Hill (District 2), and Bruce Westerman (District 4) won re-election.

Voters also decided the fate of two constitutional amendment questions. Issue 1 would allow lottery proceeds to be used to fund vocational-technical school scholarships and grants. Voters approved it with overwhelming support of about 90% casting ballots in favor of the measure referred by the Arkansas Legislature. Voters also approved Issue 2, which would repeal a casino license in Pope County and require countywide voter approval for new casino licenses. Votes cast regarding Issue 3, which would have expanded access to medical marijuana, were not be counted, according to a ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court on Oct. 21.

Three people sought to become Arkansas Treasurer: Secretary of State John Thurston, Republican Party; Michael Pakko, Libertarian Party; and John Pagan, Democratic Party. Thurston won with more than 60% of the vote, according to Tuesday evening projections from The Associated Press.

In a runoff from the March nonpartisan state judicial races, current justices Rhonda Wood and Karen Baker sought to become the next Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Baker won the match and will become the first female elected Chief Justice in January. She replaces Dan Kemp, who is retiring Dec. 31.

Races in Benton and Washington counties include contests for Bentonville, Rogers and Fayetteville mayors and other local matches.

Two incumbents, Bill Burckart and Holly Hook, won re-election in Bentonville City Council races.

Two current NWACC Board of Trustees members also won re-election to their seats: Joe Spivey and Mark Scott.