Bryant taxes & courts voted down by a scant minority – Was it apathy, ignorance or just absence?

Let me break down for you what happened – as best I can. First off, this is the lowest percentage of voters I have ever seen. Either people didn’t know about the election, or they didn’t care, or both.

I will say that this election was only for Bryant residents, only the ones who live inside the city limits and only those who have a current voter registration for inside the city of Bryant. That number is a mere 16,471 people, according to the Saline County Clerk’s Office. But out of those thousands, only 622 showed up at the polls. That’s an abysmal 3.78%.

321 came to vote early. Early voting is normally a low percentage, but it landed at 2.6% after four days of efforts. Then on election day, which normally gets way more votes, did even worse, with only 301 votes. Hardly worth opening two polling places for the day.

Secondly, what went wrong? Do people not know what an Advertising and Promotions Tax is? Do they not know what a Bond is (for indoor pickleball & tennis courts in this case)? I’m asking you. For the 16,000+ people who were eligible to vote here’s an anonymous poll… 

We’ll post the results of the poll in a day or so – assuming people will vote in it. 

Meanwhile, for the people that did vote, there’s an obvious majority that didn’t want the A&P Commission and tax, and didn’t want the bond for the indoor tennis and pickleball courts. I have to wonder if it’s the word “tax” or the idea of these particular sports or something else. Feel free to add that to your answer in the 2nd question of the poll above. 

Keep watching MySaline, as we will update with what’s next for Bryant. Surely citizens will vote in the March 5th Primary Election, where you’ll be choosing your next mayor.

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PREVIOUSLY:

??Scroll to the end?? to read the red letters ??for Election Results?? on the evening of ??November 14, 2023.

 

Bryant citizens will vote in a Special Election on November 14th, 2023 – or beginning November 7th if early voting. City officials have been discussing and revising an ordinance for several months that would create and fund an Advertising and Promotion Commission. That’s the first issue. The second is a bond question for new indoor tennis and pickleball facilities. 

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WHO CAN VOTE?

Before going deep into the ballot issues, let’s make sure you can vote. Your primary residence must be inside the city limits of Bryant, Arkansas. You must also have a current voter registration inside the city limits. This election is only for citizens of Bryant.

Update: The registration deadline has passed, so you can skip the next two paragraphs in orange.

The deadline to begin your voter registration for this election (or update it) is Monday, October 16, 2023. You can check your voter status at www.voterview.ar-nova.org/voterview. Even if you’ve registered before, consider that if you’ve moved, or your name has changed, you may not be able to vote in your current precinct.

Make sure you turn in a new registration form by the deadline. You can download it at this link and mail it or return it in person. The Saline County Clerk’s office is the place to do that. It’s located in the County Annex building at 215 North Main Street, Benton, AR 72015.

The voting places, dates and times are listed below. After that, see the descriptions of ordinances and their images, with the exact wording of the Bryant City law that would take effect if the issue should pass. 

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EARLY VOTING

Locations, Times & Dates

Benton Vote Center – 221 N. Main St. Benton

• Tue Nov 7, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Wed Nov 8, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Thu Nov 9, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Mon Nov 13, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mabel Boswell Memorial Library – 201 Prickett Rd. Bryant

• Tue Nov 7, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Wed Nov 8, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Thu Nov 9, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Mon Nov 13, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

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ELECTION DAY VOTING

Locations, Times & Dates

First Baptist Church Bryant – 6715 Highway 5 Bryant

• Tue Nov 14, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

First Southern Baptist Church – 604 S. Reynolds Rd. Bryant

• Tue Nov 14, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

What are the exact things that Bryant citizens will be voting on? ??Read the full Ordinances below??

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THE RESULTS

Early voting has ended, Bryant citizens cast a total of 321 votes. That’s less than 2.6% of the individuals that are eligible to vote in this election. Turnout numbers means the total number of people who voted.

??Turnout Numbers for Early Voting: