CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. — With less than four weeks until election day, some Arkansas residents are fighting for their right to vote early.
The Crittenden County Election Commission recently voted to appeal the circuit court ruling that appoints an early voting location in West Memphis.
Arkansans were very upset Thursday after Crittenden County Election Commissioners appealed a ruling that dedicates an early voting location at the Seventh Street Church of Christ. But James Pulliaum, the lone commissioner who voted for an early voting site, said fighting the issue doesn't make sense.
"I don't think we should waste taxpayer money taking this any further," Pulliaum said. 'I really don't, because it's about doing what's in the people's best interest."
Two West Memphis residents, Shirley Brown and Lavonda Taylor, filed suit against commissioners after initially failing to designate that location.
After the judge ruled in their favor, most election commissioners voted to appeal it, saying that this would bind future cases dealing with similar issues.
"This is the greatest form of voter suppression," said West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon. "I never thought that in 2024, I would be fighting the same battles that my grandparents fought in the 50s and the 60s."
And with the general election less than a month away, Brown and Taylor's attorney wants to assure West Memphis voters that they will have a place to cast their ballots early.
"Right now, there's been no request for the Supreme Court to reverse that," said Attorney Jennifer Waymack Standerfer. "Right now, the county clerk has declared that she has an early voting location that she's going to run at the Seventh Street Church of Christ."
Despite their appeal, the Crittenden County Election Commission will have to contend with the county clerk by handing over the ballots and voting machines, or they will be held in contempt of court.
Early voting will start on October 21 in West Memphis unless a higher court interferes before then.