How long does a voter have to cast a ballot at a polling place in Arkansas?

And how long will it take to read the question asking voters if they want to legalize recreational marijuana?

Some may wait to find out Tuesday, Nov. 8. The state law gives a voter 10 minutes to cast a ballot.

If a voter takes too long, a trip to the back of the line is possible with another ballot. The voting machines time out at five minutes, she said. Should lines get too long, volunteer polling place workers will ask someone to try to step it up, said Meghan Hassler, Sebastian County's election coordinator.

She said sample ballots are at all polling places. Hassler did not have a prediction as to how heavy voter turnout will be Nov. 8.

But it might be a good idea to read the sample ballot before stepping up to vote.

Voters will decide recreational marijuana, and heavier than usual voter turnout is expected. There are races for U.S. Senate, Congress, Arkansas senate and house seats and Fort Smith Board of Directors races for three positions on the ballots for Sebastian County voters.

Madeline Marquette, chair of the Sebastian County Democratic Women and the secretary for the Sebastian County Democratic party, has helped register voters this year.

"We think the trend is that there are more people interested in voting. We have also had several events at UAFS (University of Arkansas - Fort Smith) with several registration events so that has been good.

She said she thinks voter turnout will be heavier Nov. 8 and the number of people voting for Democrats will be up.

"I think we will have a higher turnout for Democrats this year. Part of it is because of Roe v. Wade, but there are other reasons too people are coming out who are brave enough to say they are Democrats," Marquette said.

Sebastian County is a Republican stronghold, she said. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the heavy favorite as the next governor over Democrat Chris Jones.

"We are very hopeful for Chris Jones," Marquette said.

The recreational marijuana question is titled as Issue 4.

There are three other questions on the ballots.

Issue 1 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the general assembly to convene in "extraordinary session."

Issue 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment to "ballot initiative reform," that would require 60% voter approval on certain measures.

Issue 3 is titled "The Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment" to "provide that government may never burden a person's freedom of religion except in the rare circumstance that the government demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is in furtherance of a compelling government interest."

Issue 4, the recreational marijuana question, states that although recreational marijuana is still federally illegal, it could be legal for those 21 and older if approved in Arkansas.

Licensed dispensaries could legally sell recreational marijuana on March 8, 2023, should the voters approve. Child-proof packaging would be required.

The Alcohol Beverage Control Division of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration would enforce laws at dispensaries.

A 10% state sales tax would go toward a state stipend for certified law enforcement officers, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and drug court programs authorized by the Arkansas Drug Court, according to the ballot.