Early voting for three runoffs in Lonoke County begins Tuesday. The polls will be open through next Saturday, March 19 and Monday, March 21.
March 22 is Election Day.
Those who cast Democratic ballots in the primary will not be eligible to vote in the Republican runoffs of coroner candidates Carla Horton and Karl E. (Eddie) Pennington, Dist. 4 justice of the peace candidates Claud E. Irvin and John Howard and Dist. 13 JP candidates Bob Morris and Kenny Ridgeway.
On the coroner race, voters should know Pennington dropped out because he took a new job in Little Rock that would keep him out of the county most of the time. His name appeared on the primary ballot because it had to by law, since he withdrew after the certified list was submitted to the Lonoke County Election Commission.
If he were to win the runoff, he couldn’t take the job.
Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners Director Justin Clay and Legal Counsel Tim Humphries say a vacancy of nomination would exist and couldn’t be filled by the party unless the candidate had passed away, been inflicted with a serious illness, moved out of the county or filed for another office.
If there isn’t an election for coroner in November, the current coroner would “hold over pursuant to the (state) Constitution,” the officials told The Leader last week.
People eligible to vote in the three runoffs are those who cast Republican ballots, nonpartisan ballots or didn’t vote in the primary.
Early voting sites are ReNew Community Church at 1122 S. Second St. in Cabot and the Lonoke County Courthouse Annex on North Center Street in Lonoke.
The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through next Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Monday.
Residents can cast their ballots at every regular polling site on March 22.
