In Miller County, voting early is the primary way residents cast ballots.
The fact was shared during a Miller County Election Commission public hearing Monday at the county courthouse.
"Early voting has become increasingly popular since 2012. During the 2016 elections an average of 65 percent voted early," said Brandon Cogburn, chairman of the commission.
Due to the substantial increase in early voting, as well as absentee voting, 18 polling places in the county are underused on elections. The pattern was one of the reasons for the hearing, which the commission used to roll out proposed closures of polling places at:
- Bright Star, 4019 Arkansas Highway 160
- Genoa Central High School, 12472 Arkansas Highway 196
- Mandeville Baptist Church, 76 Miller County Road 144
- Faith Assembly of God Church, 2001 Arkansas Blvd.
- Washington School, 1900 Marietta
The commission also suggested opening additional early voting locations.
The changes, however, are limited in scope.
"Precincts will not be changed. Voters will receive new registration cards, which will indicate they can vote at an assigned poll location or a vote center. When a large voter turnout is anticipated, the commissioners will open additional early vote locations," said Cogburn, who mentioned that Miller County's designation as a Vote Center County in 2016 allows all registered voters to vote at any polling site.
One of three residents in attendance said the proposal was a bit dismaying.
"I hate to see Washington close as a voting place," said Sandra Rembert. "We've moved from the teachers lounge to the cafeteria. We have older voters, and it's easy in and easy out for them."
However, Cogburn said the proposal is a practical one.
"The reason for closure is the low utilization on election day and not as many people go to the polls on election day."
He reinforced his statement by pointing to data from Election Day 2016 at Washington: 200 voted at the school on Election Day 2016, while 209 voted early.
Voting numbers alone are not the only factor in the commission's proposal, particularly in regard to using schools as voting sites.
"We also have safety concerns and education concerns with voters coming to school campuses. We believe it's better for education and school safety if people no longer vote at the schools," Cogburn said.
Miller County Judge Roy John McNatt said he votes early at the courthouse. He lives in the Mandeville precinct.
"I vote early because I'm going to the courthouse anyway. They've even made me show my driver's license," McNatt said, who has an office in the courthouse.
No timetable was suggested on when the poll locations would be closed.