LITTLE ROCK — Voting is under way across Arkansas after polls opened at 7:30 a.m. with candidates competing in Democratic and Republican primaries and judicial races.
Polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m.
About two dozen people were waiting in line as voting began inside Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church in Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood, where the Democratic primary ballot included a contest for state representative between Mark Robertson and Warwick Sabin.
David Cowan, an architect who was among the first to vote at the precinct, said he favored Robertson for the District 33 post because he likes Robertson's stances on education, clean energy and other policies.
"I just generally agree with his positions," Cowan said shortly after casting his ballot.
Chad Rodgers, a pediatrician who voted shortly after Cowan, said Sabin earned his vote. Rodgers said he worked with Sabin on the Arkansas Literary Festival and was impressed.
"He just always tries to make everything the best it can be," Rodgers said.
At Western Hills United Methodist near Colonel Glenn Road, 25 voters had cast ballots by 8:30 a.m. Among them was Shirlee Flanigan-Isbell, a retiree who said she researches all the races and takes voting very seriously.
Flanigan-Isbell said she ultimately picked state Sen. Joyce Elliott in her race for reelection against challenger state Rep. Fred Allen. She said she likes Elliott's focus on education and believes she has performed well in the role.
"She has proved that she will be a good representative," Flanigan-Isbell said.
Ken Dunn said he voted for Allen because he disagrees with some of Elliott's stances, though he declined to specify which they were. He said he also voted for President Barack Obama in the Democratic primary against challenger John Wolfe, a lawyer from Tennessee.
"It's kind of crazy, but I guess he legally could get on the ballot," Dunn said after voting. "More power to him. But (Obama) should beat him."
Party officials say Wolfe won't be awarded any delegates regardless of how many votes he get because he failed to file necessary paperwork.
Teresa Marks, a voter at Pulaski Heights, said she voted in the Democratic primary, though she declined to specify who she picked in the state House race between Robertson and Sabin. She said she cast her ballot for Patti James for circuit court judge, but that it was a tough decision because there were "three very viable candidates." Tjuana Byrd and John Hout are also running.
Steve Strickland, who works for Entergy, declined to say which election he voted in or which candidates he favored, but he said he felt it was his civic duty to participate.
"I just feel like it's my responsibility," Strickland said as he left Pulaski Heights, which serves as the polling place for precincts 109 and 112 in Pulaski County. "It's important to participate in government. I don't feel like I have a legitimate right to complain unless I vote."