ARKANSAS, USA — Early voting for runoff elections in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley begins Tuesday, Nov. 26 . Election Day is Dec. 3.
Election officials encourage those who live in cities with runoffs to cast their ballots, as runoffs typically have a low voter turnout.
"We see a lot less people come out for a runoff election, unfortunately," said Kim Dennison, Benton County Election Coordinator. "We might be lucky to see two or three percent total turnout for this election. People either don't realize that it's happening, or they're just not tuned in to their local government races as much as they are the presidential race that's very well known."
Seven cities in Northwest Arkansas and two in the River Valley are holding runoff elections.
Races headed to runoffs:
Washington County
The Fayetteville mayoral race is heading to a runoff, with Incumbent Mayor Lioneld Jordan facing Experience Fayetteville CEO Molly Rawn.
Other runoffs in Washington County are for the Fayetteville City Council Ward 4, Position 2 spot between Monique Jones and Todd Hertzberg. Prairie Grove will also have a runoff for its Ward 1, Position 2 spot between Audrey Wetzel and Brian Hawkins.
Benton County
Bella Vista City Council has two runoffs: Jerry Snow and Travis Harp are up for Ward 1, Position 2, and Doug Fowler and Anna Isbell are vying for Ward 3, Position 1.
In Pea Ridge, Steven Guthrie and Wendy Harding will be on the ballot for the City Council Ward 2, Position 1 title.
In Rogers, Margaret Wolf and Carissa Cummings are going to a runoff for Ward 2, Position 2 and Hayes Minor and Alicia Hayes are up for Ward 3, Position 2.
In Siloam Springs, Reid Carroll and Kevin Williams will be on the ballot for Director for Position 5 and Brad Burns and Mark Long will be on the ballot for Director for Position 6.
Sebastian County
In Fort Smith, Lee Kemp and Russell E. Bragg are on the ballot for City Director Ward 3 Position 3, and in Lavaca, Charles Darin Jetton and Dawn Marie Hutchins are up for Alderman Ward 2 Position 2.
Voting locations and times
Washington County
Early voting for runoffs will be at the Washington County Courthouse Tuesday, Nov. 26, Wednesday, Nov. 27, Friday, Nov. 28 and Monday, Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On Election Day, all voting centers in Fayetteville and one site in Prairie Grove will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A list of all locations for Washington County can be found here.
Benton County
Early voting for runoffs will be at the Benton County offices: the Election Commission Office in Rogers and the County Clerk's Offices in Bentonville and Siloam Springs. Each site will be open Tuesday, Nov. 26, Wednesday, Nov. 27, Friday, Nov. 28 and Monday, Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On Election Day, the voting sites within the districts holding runoff elections will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A list of all locations for Benton County can be found here.
Sebastian County
Early voting for runoffs will be at Ben Geren Park Tornado Shelter on Tuesday, Nov. 26, Wednesday, Nov. 27, Friday, Nov. 28 and Monday, Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Election Day, four voting sites will be open in Fort Smith and one in Lavaca from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A list of all locations for Sebastian County can be found here.