Early voting for the March 3^rd primaries has begun and runs through Monday, March 2. Voters can select their party choices, but one change may affect Democratic voters.

A rule passed by the Republican Party of Arkansas’ state committee last June prohibits registered Democrats from voting in this year’s March 3 Republican primaries. But voters can change their affiliation to Republican, optional, or another party prior to the election or even at the polls.

The change came as a result of a vote at the RPA’s state committee meeting in Little Rock. It states that “Qualified electors shall NOT be a registered Democrat before being issued a Republican primary ballot to vote in a Republican party primary election.” The same prohibition does not apply to members of other parties.

The rule represents a change from Arkansas’ traditional status as an “open primary” state. Until this election, any voter could freely choose to vote in either party’s primary, or they could vote in a nonpartisan election featuring only judicial and other nonpartisan officials. Democrats do not have a similar rule prohibiting registered Republicans from voting in their primary.

Voters can change their party affiliation at any point before the election by contacting their local county clerk, or they can do so when they arrive at the polls. Arkansans are not required to choose a party when they register to vote. Nearly 87% of the state’s voters are listed as “optional.”

This year, Democrats have competitive primaries in several races, including governor, U.S. Senate, and in the 2nd and 4th Congressional District races.

Voters who vote in one party’s primary cannot vote in the other party’s runoff.

Editor’s note: Steve Brawner contributed to this report.