You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the chatter at the local diner about the "big" vote. But honestly, keeping track of the 2024 Arkansas elections dates was a bit of a rollercoaster for anyone not glued to a calendar. It wasn't just about one Tuesday in November. It was a whole series of events that started while most of us were still shaking off the winter chill.
Arkansas does things its own way. While some states drag their feet, the Natural State jumped into the 2024 cycle with a "Super Tuesday" bang.
The Big Dates You Had to Know
Basically, the 2024 calendar was anchored by three major milestones. If you missed these, you missed the chance to shape the local courthouse or the White House.
The primary happened on March 5, 2024. This was the big one—Super Tuesday. It’s when the parties decided who would represent them. Then came the primary runoff on April 2, 2024, which is usually a lower-turnout affair but high stakes for local candidates. Finally, the general election took place on November 5, 2024.
Wait. There's more.
Early voting is where the real action happened this year. For the general election, you could start casting ballots on October 21, 2024, and it ran right up until the day before the election, November 4. Arkansas voters actually showed up in massive numbers during this window. We're talking over 845,000 people who decided they didn't want to wait in the Tuesday morning lines.
Why Super Tuesday Mattered So Much
Kinda crazy how early it felt, right? By March, the presidential field was already narrowing. Joe Biden and Donald Trump both cruised through their respective primaries in Arkansas on that March 5 date. Biden snagged about 88.5% of the Democratic vote. On the Republican side, Trump took 76.9%, even with former Governor Asa Hutchinson on the ballot (though he’d already dropped out by then).
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But the primaries aren't just for the President.
They also handle nonpartisan judicial races. In Arkansas, we often elect our judges during the primary. If a candidate gets more than 50% of the vote then, they win the seat outright. No November wait. No extra campaigning. It's done. This year, that included a high-profile race for the Arkansas Supreme Court.
The November Showdown
When November 5 finally rolled around, the results were pretty decisive for the top of the ticket. Donald Trump carried the state with 64.2% of the vote. That’s a massive margin, but if you look at the history, it’s not surprising. Republicans have been increasing their hold on the state for eight straight cycles now.
But here’s the thing people forget: the down-ballot races.
All four of Arkansas’s U.S. Representatives—Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack, and Bruce Westerman—kept their seats. None of them really faced a "nail-biter" situation. French Hill’s race in the 2nd District was the most watched, but even he won by a comfortable 18 points against Democratic challenger Marcus Jones.
Ballot Issues: The Stuff Nobody Talks About
Most people go to the polls to pick a person, but the 2024 Arkansas elections dates were also about picking policies. This year, we had two big "Issues" on the ballot.
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Issue 1 was a total blowout. It passed with about 90% support. It basically expands how we can use lottery proceeds to include scholarships for vocational and technical schools. People loved it.
Issue 2 was much saltier.
It was all about the Pope County casino license. This measure sought to bake the requirement for a local vote into the constitution before any new casino can be built. It also revoked the existing license for Pope County. It passed with 56% of the vote, which means the casino drama in that part of the state is far from over.
Interesting fact: thousands of people who voted for President actually skipped the ballot issues entirely. It’s called "undervoting." About 41,000 people just left Issue 1 blank. Maybe they were tired by the time they got to the bottom of the page? Or maybe the legal jargon was just too much.
Voter Turnout: The Good and the Bad
Honestly, Arkansas has a reputation for low turnout. In 2024, the state saw about 53.5% of eligible voters participate. That sounds okay, but when you realize the national average was over 64%, it feels a bit lackluster.
However, some counties really showed out.
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Saline County led the pack with a whopping 71.66% turnout. People there were clearly motivated. On the flip side, Nevada County was the only spot where fewer than 50% of registered voters showed up.
| County | Turnout Percentage |
|---|---|
| Saline | 71.66% |
| Grant | 71.04% |
| Calhoun | 71.03% |
| Cleburne | 70.29% |
What Most People Get Wrong
One of the biggest misconceptions about the 2024 Arkansas elections dates is that "it's all over on election night."
Hardly.
After November 5, the "canvassing" begins. This is where county boards of election commissioners verify everything. They have to deal with provisional ballots—those cast by people whose registration was questioned at the poll. In 2024, the results weren't officially certified by the Secretary of State until early December.
Also, if you're looking for the Secretary of State himself, John Thurston actually won a special election for State Treasurer this year. He beat Democrat John Pagan by a huge margin. This means Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders now gets to appoint a new Secretary of State to fill his old spot. It’s a game of political musical chairs.
What Happens Now?
Now that the 2024 cycle is in the rearview mirror, eyes are already turning to 2026. If you’re a planner, you’ll want to mark March 3, 2026, for the next primary.
The 2024 election proved that early voting is the new "Election Day" in Arkansas. If you haven't tried it yet, it’s the easiest way to avoid the chaos.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your registration: Even though 2024 is done, you should verify your status on the Arkansas Secretary of State website to ensure you're ready for 2026.
- Review your local results: Go beyond the big names. Check how your specific State Representative or State Senator voted on issues that matter to you.
- Save the dates: Put the March 2026 primary on your digital calendar now so it doesn't sneak up on you like this year did.