Thread by @Local24Brad

Happy Monday ! Heads up, #Arkansas ! Today is the first day you can take part in early voting.

In West Memphis, AR and Crittenden County, to prepare for more voters, the election commission added a second early voting site in WM which will be at the Eugene Woods Civic Center.

“90% of the early voters traditionally come from Marion and West Memphis, those two cities have about 85% of the total voting population in the county," Crittenden Co. Election Commissioner Frank Barton said last month. “The courthouse is the traditional voting site."

More from our @Local24Jalyn a few weeks ago on topic of expanded early voting options in West Memphis: localmemphis.com/article/news/l…

"Across river" in Memphis & Shelby County, voters drawing state & national attention (in good way!). Through four days of early voting, Wednesday to Saturday, turnout is 92% more compared to 2016. Add in mailed back absentee ballots, its 104% more compared to '16! @ShelbyVote

Here in Marion, AR - this is one of two Crittenden County early voting sites. They’ve been doing a little more 100 people an hour - 478 - through first four hours. Today is first day of early voting in the Natural State. @THV11

The Crittenden County Election Commissioner isn’t sure if turnout expectation but expects its to be at least half of participating voters in two-week early voting period. In 2016, more than 50% of 31,000 registered voters participated, more than half of those voted early.

In 2016, there were five machines and one location in Crittenden County (Courthouse in Marion). In 2020, they’ve added a second location in West Memphis at the Civic Center and moved Marion location to Performing Arts Center. Four times as many machines total (20). @THV11

Heading to check out the West Memphis, AR early voting location now & talk to voters.

Scene at West Memphis Civic Center. Line has been steady, currently several waiting outside to get in and vote at one of the 10 early voting machines on this first day of early voting in #Arkansas.

Caught up w/several voters, they tell me voting is a right they don’t take for granted & are thankful Crittenden County Election Commission quadrupled their machines this presidential election, added a second site & allowed for more social distancing during early voting. @THV11

I’ll have a full recap of the kickoff of #Arkansas early voting - and some helpful reminders to voters before they head to early voting locations - at 5 & 6 @LocalMemphis.

Shelby County voters, you keep SLAYING it participation wise! Just in from @ShelbyVote: "As of 4 p.m., 19,681 people had voted today. The previous Day 6 record was 17,929 set in 2016." So of FIVE days of early voting in 2020, FOUR OF THOSE DAYS set some record (& later broken).