Candidate yard signs are sprouting in neighborhoods and road intersections and soon those oversized postcards will start flooding your mailbox. You’re likely to encounter an uptick in campaign messages in your Facebook feed as well as the local airwaves. Election season is upon us.

All eyes are immediately trained on Tuesday, March 3rd, the state’s party primaries. Voters will select their nominees for the general election, but in several Prariie County races the GOP primary will determine who gets elected.

“We’ve been planning for months and now it’s time to implement our campaign tactics and strategies,” said veteran political consultant Linda Napper. She works with legislative, judicial and local candidates across the state.

“There really is a science to reaching voters through different types of outreach like direct mail and Facebook targeting, but don’t underestimate knocking on doors or having volunteers spread the word about a candidate. Voters can expect to hear a lot from the candidates and their campaigns these next few weeks,” she added.

In Prairie County, there are high-profile primary races for County Judge and County Sheriff. There is also a high-profile primary for the Arkansas State Senate for District 10 between incumbent GOP Sen. Ronald Caldwell and Republican challenger Trey Bohannan.

Caldwell, of Wynne, has represented his district since 2013. Senate District 10 covers Cross, Jackson, Monroe, Prairie and Woodruff counties and parts of Arkansas, Lee, Lonoke, Poinsett and St. Francis counties. It’s one of the biggest Senate districts geographically in the state. Bohannan, from Stuttgart, is entering his first race for elective office.

For Prairie County Judge, incumbent Lawrence Holloway is being challenged by Johnny Reidhar, who serves on the Des Arc school board. There are no Democratic or Independent candidates in the race, so the outcome of the Republican primary on March 3rd will determine the winner.

For Prairie County Sheriff, it’s a three-way GOP primary race between Jeffery Bokker, Joe Mills and Rob Higgs. One of the candidates must win 50.1% of the vote to avoid a runoff. The eventual winner of the GOP primary will take office in January as there is no Democrat or Independent inthe race.

In Prairie County, the Sheriff also serves as the Collector, a dual position that some counties have separated.

There will be statewide political primaries as well.

Incumbent U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., faces two Republican primary challengers. Micah Ashby and Jeb Little both filed against Cotton, who is seeking a third six-year term.

The Democrats who want to challenge Cotton also have a primary. Newport farmer Hallie Shoffner will battle Lewisville Mayor Ethan Dunbar for the Democratic nomination.

In the race for Governor, incumbent Gov. Sarah Sanders is unopposed in her GOP primary. However, two Democrats have filed to seek their party nomination. Term-limited State Senator Fred Love, D-Little Rock, will square off against Northwest Arkansas businesswoman Supha Xayprasith-Mays, who ran for the Democratic nomination four years ago.

State Senator Kim Hammer, R-Benton, Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison, and Bryan Norris are vying for the Republican nomination for Arkansas Secretary of State. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Kelly Grappe in the November election.

Two Republicans are seeking the Commissioner of State Lands post. Cole Jester, who was appointed as Secretary of State by Gov. Sanders, cannot seek that post. Jester and Christian Olson are running as Republicans for the Land Commissioner office. No Democrat filed for the seat.

There will also be a race between two candidates for Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 3. Justice Nick Bronni and attorney John Adams both filed for the high court seat. Candidates for judicial office run as Independents.

Regardless of which party primary a voter chooses to vote in on March 3rd, they will be allowed a judicial ballot.