Before dinner Saturday night I got a sour stomach, weird for the timing. A couple of hours later my nose began running like crazy. I might’ve guessed allergies for the time of year and the suddenly cooler temps but for the acid-y stomach. It’s time for the fall cold, a couple of really annoying days then sniffles.
What, you could care less about my exciting weekend? This weekend is two before Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3 this year, with two weeks of early voting in Arkansas opening Monday, Oct. 19. –Should I vote or should I wait– ?
A great pleasure of mine over the 27 years we’ve lived at Shady Hill Manse in Fayetteville has been walking the 3/4 of a mile from our house to the nearest polling place, Sang Avenue Baptist Church. Usually, the trek has doubled as a 1 1/2-mile dog walk.
Voting actually on Election Day (and in the spring on party primary day) has a sacred rite feel to it, a secular pilgrimage, What more could evoke ye olde 1776 than exercising our small-d democratic franchise on the first Tuesday of November of even-numbered years?
Wiping my nose every 10 minutes last Sunday makes me worry what if I didn’t make it for Nov. 3? This dilemma, not a virus but planning for the unexpected, in large part must be why early voting was invented.
I am honest enough with myself to recall that every two years I worry about the other side winning and how that’ll break the city, county, state or country. Every two years I think, no, this time is the worst; we’re really in for it now.
2026 won’t be the most vulnerable, I realize now. That’ll wait for 2028 and its presidential race. But 2026’s races impact 2028’s directly, so votes this year are crucial. Democratic Party victories at any level will slow the MAGA “America First, Democracy Distant Second” strategies. Also, the administration’s claims of election fraud will get tested this fall, and the strategies that make it through the courts will be formidable in 2028.
General voting how-tos including sample ballots are detailed on the Arkansas 965 website. The Washington County Election Commission lists Early Voting locations, dates and times. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 21-23, county residents can vote conveniently on campus, at the Hembree Alumni House.
The law and campus policy (7.18) allow us to take off from work to vote:
“In most communities, polls remain open long enough to allow you time to vote before or after working hours. In cases of extreme hardship, such as having to travel a great distance to your polling place, you may be permitted to report to work late or to leave early in order to vote. The time permitted for this purpose is given to you with pay and without reduction of your sick leave, annual leave, or any other benefit. If it is necessary for you to use this privilege, please notify your immediate supervisor before election day.”
I may be a union president but still choose when to be strident. This year I will vote early, during a lunch break, to avoid inconveniencing the office.
A member of the UA Staff Senate in a recent meeting noted Point 7.18 does not say “ask” your supervisor for time away but “notify” them.
That’s how important voting is.
© 2026 Ben S. Pollock
This column first was published in the monthly newsletter of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965, of which Ben is the 2026-2028 president.
