Clarification: Two One polling station that was supposed to be open today for early voting in this county was not, despite promises made yesterday. Early voting has been going on since Tuesday, and because only two polling stations are going to be open Election Day, the election commissioner had agreed to have one open an extra day -- today. People showed up and were waiting in line, with no opportunity to cast an early ballot today. Sorry for the confusion. Susan.
Despite promises yesterday from Election Commissioner Charles Tapp that early voting would be going on in Garland County today at 42 polling stations, only two are currently open, according to Blue Arkansas.
People were lined up and frustrated, and word is that the Halter campaign is looking into exactly what's going on and what measures can be taken. If you're in the county and looking to vote, Blue Arkansas reports two sites are open are scheduled to be open Monday for early voting:
- Election Commission, 649 Ouachita Avenue.
- The Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, 4585, N. State Hwy 7, in Hot Springs Village
Tapp's background is problematic; read the Blue Arkansas entry in full to get the flavor. Yesterday, the Arkansas Times had a quick overview of just why this county matters to Halter … and an update that has clearly not been lived up to:
Many on the Halter side are grumbling because the Garland County Election Commission has decided to save money in the runoff by opening only TWO polling places — at its office in Hot Springs and in Hot Springs Village. Lincoln got only 40 percent of the vote in Garland County, with more than 12,000 voting. Even with early voting could be talking about several thousand voters using two polling places on Tuesday, many of them elderly.
NOTE: Early voting will continue from 10-4 Saturday in Garland County.
While we're waiting to hear more, you know what to do.
(Also check out the information and discussion in Phoenix Woman's recommended diary.)
Update: According to the Halter campaign, 717 people tried to vote today in Hot Springs and were turned away.
Update II: The Halter campaign now corrects its numbers -- a couple of hundred people were turned away from the polls today.
