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Arkansas

Upcoming Election Dates & Registration Deadlines

Some elections in this list are local and do not apply for all Arkansas voters. Please click the “View all” button below to view all election dates in your state.

Next Election: Runoff
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
State Primary Runoff (if necessary)

Registration Deadlines

By Mail
Monday, March 4, 2024
In Person
Monday, March 4, 2024

05

Nov
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
General

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Arkansas Voting Information

Absentee Ballot Process

Absentee voting is available if you meet any of the criteria below. The last day to request your ballot varies, as does the deadline to return the voted ballot. You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on your Secretary of States website. Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day. Please see below for more information.

To be qualified to vote an absentee ballot, you must meet one of the following criteria:

  • You will be unavoidably absent from your polling site on Election Day (the law does not require you to give a reason)
  • You will be unable to attend your polling site on election day due to illness or physical disability
    • This includes those with concerns regarding COVID-19*
  • You are a member of the U.S. armed forces, merchant marines or the spouse or a dependent family member
  • A U.S. citizen domiciled in Arkansas but temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States

Requesting and Returning your Absentee Ballot:

You can obtain an application for an absentee voting ballot from your county clerk who may mail or fax you an application, or you can fill out an absentee ballot request form here.

The deadline to submit your absentee ballot is varies depending on how you return the application to the county clerk:

  • In-person by you: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election
  • By designated bearer: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election
  • By mail or by fax: 7 days before the election
  • By authorized agent: 1:30 pm on Election Day

The deadline to submit your ballot also depends on your method of delivery:

  • In-person by you: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election.
  • By mail: by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day
  • By designated bearer: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election.
  • By authorized agent: 7:30 p.m. on Election Day

Separate applications for absentee ballots are needed for every election.

Voter ID Needed for Absentee Voting:

If you are voting absentee, you must provide a copy of one of the following forms of ID:

  • An Arkansas driver's license
  • An Arkansas state ID
  • An Arkansas concealed carry handgun license
  • A U.S. passport
  • A U.S. military ID document
  • A student or employee ID card issued by a postsecondary educational institution
  • A public assistance ID card with photo issued by Arkansas or the federal government
  • A voter ID card with photo issued by the County Clerk
  • Detailed  list of Verification of Voter Registration ID requirements

You do not need to provide ID when voting absentee if you are:

  • A uniformed service member or marine on active duty who is absent from the county because of active duty or service
  • The spouse or dependent of a uniformed service member or marine, who is away from the county due to the active duty or service of the uniformed service member or merchant marine
  • Residents of a long-term care or residential care facility. These voters must provide a letter or other document from the facility's administrator that the voter is a resident of the facility

Voting in Person after Requesting an Absentee Ballot:

Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person: A poll worker will provide you with a provisional ballot at your polling location if you do not bring your mailed absentee ballot with you, which will be counted after your county elections official has confirmed you are registered to vote and did not vote more than once in that election.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.

Request your Ballot
Campaign Finance Information

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets. or check your state website.

Candidate and Ballot Measure Information

Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.

 

Drop Boxes

No drop boxes available. You can hand-deliver your ballot to the office of the county clerk. You can look up the address of your county clerk here

Early Voting

Early voting dates depend on the type of election, ranging from 7-15 days before the election. Early voting will take place at the county clerk's office. Some counties have other early voting locations around the county.

Preferential Primary and General Elections:

Early voting begins 15 days before the election and is available from 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturday. Early voting ends at 5pm on the Monday before the election. Hours may vary at the non-county clerk office locations, contact your county clerk for more information.

All other elections (runoff, school, etc.):

Early voting begins 7 days before the election, and is available during normal business hours at your county clerk's office.

For more information check your state's resource.

Election Dates

Your next election date can be found here https://www.vote411.org/arkansas

Contact your local Board of Elections for more information.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to vote you must be:

  • A US citizen
  • An Arkansas resident
  • 18 before or on Election Day
  • Not presently adjudged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction
  • Not convicted of a felony without your sentence having been discharged or pardoned

Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens: 

In Arkansas, you are not eligible to vote if you are convicted of a felony. Your voting rights may be restored following the completion of your sentence, including prison term, probation, parole, and payment of any fines, fees, and restitution. You must submit paperwork to your County Clerk with proof that you have completed your sentence before you can register to vote. Pretrial detention and misdemeanors do not restrict your voting rights. 

Voters without traditional residence: 

If you live in a rural area but do not have a house or street number or currently don’t have a fixed address, please describe where you live in section C of the Arkansas voter registration application. Write in the names of the nearest crossroads or streets, draw an “X” to show where you live, use a dot to show any schools, churches, stores, or other landmarks, and write the landmark's name. The mailing address on your registration form can be a PO box, local shelter, advocacy organization, outreach center, or the home of someone who will accept mail for you. 

ID Needed for Voter Registration

If you are registering to vote by mail, you must provide either your driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on your voter registration application. If you do not have either of these you must check the box on the application noting you do not have either forms of ID.

If you do not have a driver's license number or Social Security number you should submit one of the below forms of ID with your mail-in application:

  • A current and valid photo ID
  • A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck that shows your name and address
  • Another government document that shows your name and address

If you are unable to provide any form of ID with your registration, you will be asked to vote a Provisional Ballot when you vote for the first time.

ID Needed for Voting

You must show a photo ID in order to vote. The expiration date on the ID must not be more than 4 years before Election Day.

Any photo ID is acceptable if it was issued by the United States, the State of Arkansas or an accredited post-secondary educational institution in Arkansas.

If you are unable to verify your registration through a photo ID, you will be asked to vote a provisional ballot.

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline

Official Results

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.

Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day. Provisional ballots are counted between 2-15 days after the election.

Official election results will be uploaded on Arkansas’ Secretary of State website as they become available.

 

Official Results
Overseas and Military Voters

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.

If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

Poll Worker Information

You can make sure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections for all. Become a poll worker today!

In order to be a poll worker in Arkansas, you must:

  • Be a qualified elector in Arkansas
  • Be able to read and write English
  • Be a resident of the precinct in which you serve
  • Not have been found or plead guilty to the violation of any election law in Arkansas
  • Not be a paid employee of any political party
  • Not be a paid employee of any person running for any office on the county's ballot
  • Not be a candidate for any office to be filled at an election while serving as a poll worker
  • Not be related or married to any candidate running for office in the current election
  • Complete the training

To sign up, contact your local board of elections.

Polling Place Hours

The polls will be open from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm.

Polling Place Locator

You can confirm your voting location here

Primary Election Process

Arkansas is an “open primary” state. You can choose the party’s ballot you wish to vote. This decision does not register you with that party and it is a private decision.

In a primary election if a candidate does not with the majority of the votes (50%+1) there will be a primary runoff election scheduled for a few weeks after the primary election date. The runoff election will have the top two candidates with the most votes to ensure that one of them receives the majority of the voters.

If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.

Provisional Voting

There are several reason you may be asked to vote a provisional ballot, including:

  • You name not on the registration list
  • You are unable to provide acceptable photo ID (to verify your voter registration)
  • You are not able to show acceptable ID for mail-in registrants when registering to vote
  • The voter registration list shows you requested an absentee ballot or voted during early voting
  • Your vote is challenged by a registered poll watcher (you must be informed of the challenge and the challenger must complete a Challenged Ballot Form)

After you vote your provisional ballot, the poll worker will give you written instructions on how to determine whether the provisional vote was counted, and if not, why it was not counted. Provisional ballots are counted between 2-15 days after the election.

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities

If you are at the polling site and find that you are unable to stand in line for extended period of time due to physical, sensory or other disabilities, you can inform an election official and they will put you at the head of the line of any voters.

If you are unable to mark your ballot, you may be assisted by two election officials or by any person selected by you, who will mark the ballot in accordance with your voting wishes.

If you are unable to read the ballot, the election official have the entire ballot read to you, unless you instruct otherwise. The election official shall then assist you without comment or interpretation in marking the ballot. If you designate a person to assist, the election official shall allow that person to assist you, and the person designated shall read the entire ballot to you, unless you instruct otherwise, and then assist you without comment or interpretation in marking the ballot.

For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.

Registration Deadline

The registration deadline is 30 days before the election.

If you mail the registration application, it must be postmarked by that date. You may also give it to a voter registration agency representative or your county clerk, by that date.

If you submit your application close to an election registration deadline, you are strongly advised to follow up on your registration status with your county clerk before Election Day. If an election deadline is approaching, you can ensure your eligibility by applying in person with your county clerk. If you have not received verification from your county clerk, be sure to confirm your registration before Election Day.

You can register to vote at any of the following places:

  • County clerk's office in your home county
  • State revenue Office
  • Driver services (pick up a paper form or ask for your information to be transmitted electronically)
  • Public library or Arkansas state library
  • Public assistance agency
  • Disability agency
  • Military recruitment office
Time Off To Vote

Employer shall schedule sufficient time on election days so that employees may vote. This time varies by location.

Verify Voter Registration

To verify your voter registration status

click here!
Voting Machines

The voting systems used in Arkansas are optical scan and DRE.

Optical Scan: With this system, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the various candidates and ballot measures printed on it. With a pen or pencil you fill in a little box or circle or the space between two arrows. When you are finished filling out all the cards, you may bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box. Or in some places, you may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device that checks your card or paper right there at the polling place to make sure you have voted the way you want to and counts the votes.

Direct Recording Electronic (DRE): This is the newest kind of system in use in the U.S. All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen like a TV or computer screen.

There are many variations of DREs because lots of companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties and states are trying them out. Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card that you slide into a device to start your voting session.

Some of these devices will show all of the candidates and ballot choices on one big screen. Often, with these big screen devices you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure). On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. On each screen or page, there will probably be one thing to vote on. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for senator. Often these small-screen devices have a touch screen, where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for. Other devices have a key pad. And some have a keyboard, so you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for.

You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad.

iVotronic Touch Screen: With system the voter uses a touch screen to place their votes. This system prevents voters from casting two votes in a single race and alerts the voter of races with no votes cast. It includes a paper receipt that remains in the machine but allows voters to see their individual votes to verify the machine records them correctly.

You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) resource.

Personalized voting information

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Arkansas Department of State

Secretary of State

State Capitol Room 256

Little Rock 72201


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