2024 ARKANSAS VOTER GUIDE
1.Voter Registration
Deadline to Register: October 6, 2024
2. Check Your Registration
Why check your registration? Your address is where election officials send notices, application forms to receive your ballot in the mail, and more. Additionally, poll workers will check if the address on your voter registration matches the address on your ID at the polls.
Checklist
- Is your name spelled correctly? (Correct hyphenations, middle initials, etc)
- Correct Address
- Active Voter Status (if not update by sending in another online/mail voter application)
- Correct Date of Birth
- Take a photo or screenshot of your completed registration, and take it with you to the polls.
3. Voter ID Law
Source: Ballotpedia
Arkansas requires voters to present photo identification (ID) while voting. Accepted forms of ID include driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, and concealed handgun carry licenses. If the identification has an expiration date on it, it cannot be expired for “more than four (4) years before the date of the election in which the voter seeks to vote. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below:
- Driver’s license
- Photo identification card
- Concealed handgun carry license
- United States passport
- Employee badge or identification document issued by an accredited postsecondary education institution in the State of Arkansas
- United States military identification document
- Public assistance identification card if it has a photograph
- Voter verification card as provided under Ark. Code § 7-5-324
Voters can obtain a free voter verification card at their county clerk’s office. Voters will be required to complete an affidavit stating they do not possess such identification, and must provide documentation containing their full legal name and date of birth, as well as documentation containing their name and residential address.
4. Order Your Absentee Mail Ballot
Deadline to Order Absentee Mail Ballot:
- In Person or by Designated Bearer: by close of business on October 31, 2024
- A Designated Bearer is anyone you choose to pick up or deliver your application or ballot
- By Mail or by Electronic Means: October 29, 2024
- By Authorized Agent: by 1:30 p.m. ON election day
- An Authorized Agent must give the County Clerk an affidavit from the administrator of a hospital or nursing home saying that the applicant is a patient of a hospital or long-term care or residential care facility licensed by the state and will be unable to vote on Election Day at their regular polling site.
Apply for Absentee Ballot Online
Deadline to return absentee mail Ballot:
- In Person: by close of business on October 31, 2024
- By Designated Bearer: by close of business on October 31, 2024
- By Mail: received at clerks office by 7:30 p.m. ON Election Day
- By Authorized Agent: by 7:30 p.m. ON Election Day
Ballot can either be mailed or hand-delivered to the County Clerk’s office. Find your local County Clerk here: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/ARCountyClerks.pdf
Surrendering Your Absentee Ballot:
Arkansas does not have the Surrender Rule. Even if you surrender your absentee ballot at the polling place on Election Day, they will still make you vote with a provisional ballot.
Arkansas voters should be instructed to locate and fill out their absentee ballots. If they cannot locate it, they should request a replacement ballot to ensure they are not forced to vote with a provisional ballot in-person at the polling location.
- Sources:
- A person registering to vote by mail and who has not previously voted in a federal election in the state shall:
- Present to the election official a current and valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter when appearing to vote either early or at the polls on election day; or
- When voting by mail, submit with the ballot a copy of current and valid photo ID or other qualified document that shows name and address of the voter.
- “Any person who receives an absentee ballot according to the precinct voter registration list but who elects to vote by early voting or to vote at his or her polling site on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot.” AR Code 7-5-201(f) 2018.
5. Early Voting Information
In-person early voting is available from October 21 – November 2, 2024. In-person absentee voting is not available.
- In most counties Early Voting is conducted at the county clerk’s office. Find your county clerk’s office here: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/ARCountyClerks.pdf
- Many counties do have off-site Early Voting locations other than the county clerk’s office. Local newspapers will publish designated sites. Or find yours: https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/voterview
- Early voting is available between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, ending at 5 p.m. on the Monday before the election. Off-site early voting hours may vary by county; watch local newspaper or get info directly from your county clerk. All are listed here: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/ARCountyClerks.pdf
- If your name or address has changed, you may update your information at the Early Voting site. If you received an absentee/Mail ballot but prefer to vote in person, bring the ballot with you (in case of Surrender Rule.)* If you applied for and never got an absentee/Mail ballot make sure you request a replacement ballot or else you will be asked to vote with a provisional ballot in the polls.
- For more information regarding federal, state and local elections contact your state election official online: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov or call Arkansas Secretary of State, John Thurston 501.682.1010
6. Be A Poll Worker
Become a poll worker!
- Poll workers must be 16 and over, and a registered voter in their county
- Contact your local County Clerk to sign-up: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/ARCountyClerks.pdf