As voter participation increases across the state, Pulaski County officials reject a federal request to monitor polling locations on Election Day.
With Arkansas voters heading to the polls ahead of the November 3 general election, early voting participation is outpacing the previous midterm election, while a federal election monitoring request has raised questions about oversight and voter confidence in Pulaski County.
According to figures released October 28 by the Democratic Party of Arkansas, 368,897 ballots were cast during the first eight days of early voting, representing a 20% increase over the 306,411 ballots recorded during the comparable period in 2022. The total represents approximately 40% of all ballots cast in Arkansas during the 2022 general election.
The increase extends across several voter demographics, with particularly notable gains among younger voters and minority populations.
Early voting among Arkansans under age 35 increased 52%, while participation among voters ages 18 to 24 rose 81%. Black early voting increased 49%, from approximately 29,900 ballots in 2022 to 44,600 this year. Black voters account for an estimated 12% of the state’s early ballots, compared with 10% during the previous midterm.
Hispanic early voting has also increased substantially, rising from approximately 2,000 ballots to 7,600. Meanwhile, participation among infrequent voters, defined as those who voted in one or none of the previous three general elections, increased 30%.
Regionally, Central Arkansas recorded a 30% increase, with 115,781 early ballots cast. Northwest Arkansas led the regional increases at 35%, followed by South Arkansas at 17% and the Delta at 14%.
The demographic estimates were compiled using the Arkansas Democratic Party’s internal voter file and reflect early and absentee voting through October 27.
Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Col. Marcus Jones (Ret.) attributed the increased participation to voter dissatisfaction with economic conditions and Republican leadership, encouraging residents who have not yet voted to participate before polls close on Election Day.
While early voting figures indicate increased participation compared with 2022, they do not establish whether overall turnout will increase at the same rate or how voters will cast their ballots.
As voting activity continues across the state, another election-related development has drawn additional attention to Pulaski County.
The U.S. Department of Justice requested permission to place federal election monitors inside polling locations in Pulaski and Washington counties on November 3. Federal election monitoring is an established practice intended to observe compliance with election laws and protect voting rights. However, the request prompted concerns among some local officials and residents about its necessity and potential effects on voters.
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. publicly urged the Pulaski County Election Commission to reject the request, citing the state’s election-security record and questioning why additional federal monitoring was necessary.
In his statement, Scott referenced previous assertions by Arkansas election officials regarding the security of the state’s elections, including remarks from Secretary of State Cole Jester and former Secretary of State John Thurston. He also pointed to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ acknowledgment of Arkansas’ ranking on the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 Election Integrity Scorecard.
Scott questioned the justification for selecting Pulaski County and said federal monitors could make voters feel intimidated or uncomfortable while casting their ballots.
“The right to vote is sacred. Generations of Americans fought, marched, and sacrificed for it,” Scott stated. “No voter in Little Rock or anywhere in Pulaski County should feel watched, threatened, or intimidated while exercising that right.”
On October 29, the Pulaski County Election Commission voted 2–1 to deny the Department of Justice’s request to allow federal monitors inside polling places. The decision followed public comments from residents expressing differing views on federal election oversight.
Supporters of the monitoring proposal described federal observation as a way to promote transparency and public confidence. Opponents raised concerns about possible voter intimidation and the limited time local election workers have to prepare for the monitors’ presence.
The decision followed a similar vote in Washington County, where election commissioners also declined to permit federal monitors inside polling locations. The decisions do not prohibit monitoring from areas outside the polling locations where observation is legally permitted.
Although the federal monitoring dispute and increased early voting participation are separate developments, both have drawn attention to Arkansas’ upcoming election and the experience of voters participating in the process.
Early voting continues through Monday, November 2, at 5 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Arkansas voters can verify registration information and locate polling places through the state’s VoterView website at voterview.ar-nova.org. Pulaski County voters can also find election information at VotePulaskiAR.gov.
The Arkansas Democratic Party operates a voter protection hotline at 1-833-336-8683 for voters experiencing election-related difficulties.
Sources
Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners. “Election Information.” Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, https://sbec.arkansas.gov/election-information/. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.
Arkansas Secretary of State. “For Voters.” Arkansas Secretary of State, https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/for-voters. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.
Arkansas Secretary of State. “Voting in Arkansas.” Arkansas Secretary of State, https://sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/voter-registration-information/voting-in-arkansas/. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.
Democratic Party of Arkansas. “Statewide Early Voting Up 20% From 2022.” Arkansas Democrats, 28 Oct. 2026, https://www.arkdems.org/statewide-early-voting-up-20-from-2022/.
Democratic Party of Arkansas. “Statewide Early Voting Up 20% From 2022.” Press release, 28 Oct. 2026.
Gelder, Austin. “Pulaski Election Commission Denies Federal Request to Send in Poll Monitors.” Arkansas Times, 29 Oct. 2026.
Scott, Frank, Jr. “Mayor Scott Urges Pulaski County Election Commission to Reject Federal Election Monitors, Citing Arkansas’ Record of Secure Elections.” Press release, Office of Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., 29 Oct. 2026.