Election officials from Benton County and Washington County gathered on Wednesday to complete the verification of absentee ballots submitted by military personnel and overseas voters, as well as to finalize the status of provisional ballots. The work is a key step before the commissions certify the results of the December 1 runoff election.

Washington County canvasses absentee ballots

The Washington County Election Commission is currently canvassing absentee ballots and preparing the ballot for the December 1 runoff. Under state law, military and civilian absentee voters have ten days after Election Day for their ballots to arrive. The commission will conduct another round of canvassing before it certifies the election results on Friday.

Commissioner comments on outstanding items

“As we’ve been going along to see if there are any thing that is outstanding that might change the outcome of a race or might change the runoff race. And right now we don’t have anything that’s outstanding or that has been counted that would alter that,” said Jennifer Price, director of elections for Washington County.

Provisional ballot status available online

Voters who cast provisional ballots in Washington County can check the county’s website Wednesday evening to see whether their ballot was approved and counted. The online portal provides real‑time updates on each provisional ballot’s verification status.

Benton County’s parallel effort

Benton County’s election commission conducted a similar verification process, reviewing absentee ballots from service members stationed abroad and confirming the eligibility of provisional ballots. Both counties are coordinating closely to ensure that every valid vote is counted before the runoff results are officially certified.

Why verification matters

Timely verification of absentee and provisional ballots helps maintain confidence in the electoral process, especially in close runoff races where a small number of votes can determine the winner. By completing the canvass early, the commissions give candidates and voters a clear picture of the final tally before the certification deadline.

Next steps

After the final canvass, each commission will meet on Friday to certify the runoff results. The certified results will then be posted publicly and forwarded to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office for final approval.

How voters can stay informed

Residents of Benton and Washington counties are encouraged to monitor their county election websites for updates on ballot verification and final certification. The sites also provide contact information for any questions about ballot status.

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.