Arkansas’ primary and non-partisan judicial elections are officially underway.Tuesday was the start of early voting, and an increasing number of Arkansans are casting their ballots well ahead of Election Day.Here’s what Arkansans said about the issues and candidates on the ballot as they early voted:Veteran critical of Trump, HillAlex Reyes, an Army veteran who served as a medic in the 1970s, expressed broad discontent with President Donald Trump and Arkansas’ Republican delegation to Congress. But the Pulaski County voter said the party he voted for was less important to his vote than the party he voted against.U.S. Rep. French Hill, the Republican who represents central Arkansas’ 2nd District, “aligns himself with the current administration,” Reyes said.“And I see job losses. I see costs going up. I don’t agree with the Big, Beautiful Bill, I thought that was terrible,” he said, referring to the tax cut and spending cut legislation Trump signed into law last year. “I see health care costs going up. I see grocery prices going up.”Reyes said he wants to vote as many Democrats into office as possible.He was also starkly critical of what he viewed as Trump’s disrespect for U.S. military veterans and his use of the military abroad — especially in Venezuela and with the ongoing military buildup in the Middle East.Health care costs on top of one voter’s mindFrank Crae, another Pulaski County voter, expressed a desire for change when asked about what motivated his choices on the ballot. Rising health care costs — specifically, the price of insulin — was top of mind for Crae.Crae, who described himself as a consistent Democratic voter, said he also didn’t like how Trump had torn down the East Wing of the White House to make room for a ballroom, saying it was destroying history. And he said he didn’t like how the federal government was going into cities for aggressive immigration crackdowns.“I don’t really think (Trump) helped the people,” he said. “He benefited himself and his goons that’s around him, but he ain’t helped the people.”Crae said he thought Hill had done “pretty ok” as a congressman. He was less complimentary about Sen. Tom Cotton, who is up for reelection this year.“Tom Cotton, he’s got a mouth on him, but I don’t think he’s really helped the people here in Arkansas,” Crae said.Northwest Arkansas voters focused on county judge raceRobert and Sharon McGuire of Winslow generally vote early and decided to cast their ballot Tuesday at the Washington County Courthouse in Fayetteville while they were in town for a doctor’s appointment.Living in a more rural community, Sharon said the county judge’s race is “really important” to her “because we live in Winslow. You ever seen the roads there?”Republicans Mark Scalise and Tim Shepard are looking to unseat Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins in the primary election. The winner will face a Democrat Dana Deere in November.In addition to road improvements, Sharon said she’d like to see less waste in government spending.New GOP rule prompts party short-term party change for one voterPayton Hamric generally votes on Election Day, but decided to join fellow Fayetteville attorney Leslie Copeland in voting midday Tuesday because their office is near the Washington County Courthouse.As attorneys, Copeland said the judicial races were very important to them. Because it can be difficult for candidates to provide much information in these nonpartisan races, she and Hamric suggested voters talk to attorney friends who can provide information about what types of cases the candidates have been involved with to ensure they have the applicable experience for the position they’re seeking.In the partisan races, Copeland switched her voter registration from Democrat to Republican so she could vote in the Republican primary, the first time she’s done so. The 2026 election cycle marks the first time a new Republican Party of Arkansas rule prohibiting registered Democrats from voting in GOP primary races will be enforced.“I plan to vote probably Democrat in the fall but I wanted to have a say in our elections, and as an Arkansan Democrat sometimes that’s difficult,” she said. “So this was the best way to make sure that my vote had the most influence even though it may not be my top preference.”Voters in solidly red Benton County express support for GOP leadersAt the voting center across from the Saline County Courthouse in Benton, some voters expressed support for state and federal leadership in a county where Republicans dominate elected offices.Charles and Sibel Hufstedler, a married couple from Bryant, said they supported Cotton and Hill over their primary challengers.