Arkansans head to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2018 midterm elections today. So we've decided to compile a list of candidates, ballot measures and more.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 was the deadline to register to vote in the midterms.
Early voting began on Monday, Oct. 22. Polls were open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Voting for the election will open on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and polls will stay open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. To check your registration and polling location, click here. For early voting locations in Pulaski County, click here.
For Arkansas Voter ID Laws, click here.
All bus rides on Rock Region METRO are free on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Ballot Measures
Issue 1: An Amendment Concerning Civil Lawsuits and the Powers of the General Assembly and Supreme Court to Adopt Court Rules
Not currently on the ballot, this proposed amendment would prohibit attorney fees to exceed 33 1/3 percent of the money granted in a civil lawsuit, limit the amount awarded in lawsuits for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death.
It would also allow legislators in the General Assembly to change the percentage and punitive damages limits by a two-thirds vote of each house without another vote.
A Pulaski County judge ruled that the issue be removed from the ballot. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Issue 1 stay off the ballot.
Issue 2: A Constitutional Amendment Adding as a Qualification to Vote that a Voter Present Certain Valid Photographic Identification When Casting a Ballot in Person or Casting an Absentee Ballot
This measure would amend Article 3 of the Arkansas Constitution, which states that residents of the state must meet certain qualifications to vote.
The biggest change would be that Arkansans must present a valid photo ID to vote. If passed, legislators would decide what photo ID residents would use to vote.
It would also require the state to issue an ID "at no charge" to someone who doesn't have a photo ID that meets the requirements. If a voter can't present valid ID they will fill out a provisional ballot and must follow certain steps to certify the ballot.
The measure would also allow legislators to provide "exceptions" to the requirement that voters show a photo ID.
Issue 3: Arkansas Term Limits Amendment
No longer on the ballot, the proposal would repeal the current term limits of 16 years.
It would limit terms in the House to three two-year terms and a person can only serve six years total. In the Senate, the terms would be limited to two four-year terms and a person can only serve eight years.
If passed, legislators would only be able to serve 10 years in the Arkansas General Assembly.
This change would be in effect for all legislators after January 1993, but allow legislators to finish their term even if they exceed the 10-year term limit.
The amendment would also forbid lawmakers from changing term limits by proposing amendments to the state's constitution.
A lawsuit was filed in September to remove the ballot measure from the November election and the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled it be removed.
Issue 4: An Amendment to Require Four Licenses to be Issued for Casino Gaming at Casinos
This amendment would allow four casinos in the state in four different counties (Jefferson County, Pope County, Garland County, and Crittenden County)
Two lawsuits were filed in September looking to remove the issue from the ballot. On October 11, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Issue 4 will remain on the ballot.
Issue 5: An Act to Increase the Arkansas Minimum Wage
This proposal would increase the minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2021. In 2019, it would be raised to $9.25 per hour. In 2020, it would become $10 per hour until ending at $11 per hour in 2021.
A similar ballot issue passed with 66 percent of the vote in 2014, which incrementally raised the minimum wage from $6.25 per hour to $8.50 per hour in 2017. It was the first time a wage increase was on the ballot in Arkansas.
In a written statement, Governor Asa Hutchinson told Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette that he wouldn't vote for Issue 5. He said it would be a "job killer for our youth particularly."
A lawsuit has been filed to remove Issue 5 from the ballot before November, but the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that it remain on the ballot.
Arkansas gubernatorial election
Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) (incumbent)
Jared Henderson (D)
Mark West (L)
Lieutenant Governor
Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin (R) (incumbent)
Anthony Bland (D)
Frank Gilbert (L)
Attorney General
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge (R) (incumbent)
Mike Lee (D)
Kerry Hicks (L)
Secretary of State
John Thurston (R)
Susan Inman (D)
Christopher Olson (L)
Commissioner of State Lands
Tommy Land (R)
Larry Williams (D)
TJ Campbell (L)
U.S. House of Representatives
1st District
Rep. Rick Crawford (R) (incumbent)
Chintan Desai (D)
Elvis Presley (L)
2nd District
Rep. French Hill (R) (incumbent)
Clarke Tucker (D)
Joe Ryne Swafford (L)
3rd District
Rep. Steve Womack (R) (incumbent)
Josh Mahony (D)
Michael Kalagais (L)
Jason Tate (write-in)
4th District
Rep. Bruce Westerman (R) (incumbent)
Hayden Shamel (D)
Tom Canada (L)
Susan Ann Martin (write-in)
Arkansas State Senate
District 3
Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R) (incumbent)
Jon Comstock (D)
District 4
Dawn Clemence (R)
Rep. Greg Leding (D)
District 5
Rep. Bob Ballinger (R)
Jim Wallace (D)
Lee Evans (L)
District 8
Rep. Mathew Pitsch (R)
William Whitfield Hyman (L)
District 10
Sen. Larry Teague (D) (incumbent)
Bobbi Hicks (L)
District 14
Sen. Bill Sample (R) (incumbent)
Michael Colgrove (D)
District 17
Sen. Scott Flippo (R) (incumbent)
Kevin Vornheder (L)
District 19
Rep. James Sturch (R)
Susi Epperson (D)
District 33
Rep. Kim Hammer (R)
Melissa Fults (D)
District 35
Sen. Jason Rapert (R) (incumbent)
Maureen Skinner
Arkansas House of Representatives
District 5
Wade Andrews (R)
Rep. David Fielding (D) (incumbent)
District 11
Ricky Lattimore (R)
Don Glover (D)
Rep. Mark McElroy (I) (incumbent)
District 12
Jason Dobson (R)
Rep. Chris Richey (D) (incumbent)
District 17
Rep. Vivian Flowers (D) (incumbent)
Gregory Maxwell (L)
District 18
Rep. Richard Womack (R) (incumbent)
Morgan L. Wiles (D)
District 19
Rep. Justin Gonzales (R) (incumbent)
Jeremy Ross (D)
District 21
Rep. Marcus Richmond (R) (incumbent)
Stele Wayne James (D)
District 22
Rep. Mickey Gates (R) (incumbent)
Kevin Roger (D)
District 24
Rep. Bruce Cozart (R) (incumbent)
Kallen Peret (D)
J. Kent Percefull (I)
District 26
Rep. Laurie Rushing (R) (incumbent)
Alan Hughes (D)
District 28
Jasen Kelly (R)
Dustin Parsons (D)
District 30
Rep. Fred Allen (D) (incumbent)
Mitchell Fenton (L)
District 31
Rep. Andy Davis (R) (incumbent)
Randy Haun (D)
District 32
Rep. Jim Sorvillo (R) (incumbent)
Jess Mallett (D)
District 35
Judith Goodson (R)
Andrew Collins (D)
William Barger (L)
District 38
Rep. Carlton Wing (R) (incumbent)
Chase Mangiapane (D)
District 39
Rep. Mark Lowery (R) (incumbent)
Monica D. Ball (D)
District 41
Rep. Karilyn Brown (R) (incumbent)
Jonathan Wayne Crossley (D)
District 42
Linda Dyson (R)
Mark W. Perry (D)
District 47
Rep. Les Eaves (R) (incumbent)
Drew Tanner (L)
District 49
Rep. Steve Hollowell (R) (incumbent)
Howard Smith (D)
District 54
Rep. Johnny Rye (R) (incumbent)
Austin W. Jones (D)
District 55
Gary Tobar (R)
Rep. Monte Hodges (D) (incumbent)
District 56
Rep. Joe Jett (R) (incumbent)
Ryan Carter (D)
District 61
Marsh Davis (R)
Rep. Scott Baltz (D) (incumbent)
District 65
Rep. Rick Beck (R) (incumbent)
Michael Roetzel (D)
District 67
Rep. Stephen Meeks (R) (incumbent)
Sandra Richter (L)
District 69
Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R) (incumbent)
Eddie L. King (D)
District 70
Spencer Hawks (R)
Andy Hawkins (D)
District 71
Joe Cloud (R)
Nathan George (D)
District 73
Rep. Mary Bentley (R) (incumbent)
Dana Bonham (D)
District 77
Luke Pruitt (D)
Stephen Edwards (L)
District 80
Rep. Charlene Fite (R) (incumbent)
Lou Reed Sharp (D)
Casey Copeland (L)
District 81
Rep. Bruce Coleman (R) (incumbent)
Donald R. McKinney (D)
District 84
Rep. Charlie Collins (R) (incumbent)
Denise Garner (D)
District 87
Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R) (incumbent)
Kelly Scott Unger (D)
District 89
Rep. Jeff Williams (R) (incumbent)
Megan Godfrey (D)
District 90
Rep. Jana Della Rosa (R) (incumbent)
Kati McFarland (D)
District 92
Gayla Hendren McKenzie (R)
Chris Birch (D)
District 93
Rep. Jim Dotson (R) (incumbent)
Gayatri Jane Agnew (D)
District 94
Rep. Rebecca Petty (R) (incumbent)
Jene Huffman-Gilreath (D)
District 95
Rep. Austin McCollum (R) (incumbent)
Celeste Williams (D)
District 96
Rep. Grant Hodges (R) (incumbent)
Celeste Williams (D)
District 97
Harlan Breaux (R)
Gary L. Morris (D)
We will update this article with the latest information on the ballot measure lawsuits until Election Day.