By: Cogan Davis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV)- The annual Arkansas general election is coming up in November, with many new decisions to be made.
Although the voter registration period has passed, voters can still request an absentee ballot until November 1st.
Janine Parry, director of the Arkansas poll at the University of Arkansas, says the upcoming election is important.
“All over the country, including Arkansas, all of the real decision-makers for the policies that affect us on the daily are being made.”
Even though the election has many vital issues, Parry anticipates that there will still be a much lower turnout than in a presidential election.
“Which is ironic, and I think also a tragedy because all of those issues are not only going to affect young people now but well into the future.”
Since students have arrived back on campus, many organizations have taken their time to support students voting in the upcoming election.
The Associated Student Government hosted many events to try and raise the number of students voting.
ASG member Miles Epperson says the opportunity for students to vote inside Bud Walton, a very familiar place, has brought great success.
“So that took years of advocacy to get that, so we are happy to have that back for the second time for the 2022 election so students can vote on campus.”
Specifically, out-of-state students have been catered to, allowing them to vote here in Arkansas if they cannot make the trip home.
Parry told me that this can make a massive difference in the community they are now a part of.
“Voting in the states that you are living, voting in the community that you are living, and experiencing life on a day-to-day basis can really make sense.”
The deadline to request and submit an absentee ballot is November 1st, and 7:30 p.m. on November 4th.