Voting in Arkansas

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General Election

11/05/2024
General Election Date
10/07/2024
Voter Registration Deadline (online, in-person, by mail - postmarked)

Vote By Mail Deadlines

10/29/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
11/05/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

Early Voting Dates

10/21/2024
Early Voting Begins
11/04/2024
Early Voting Ends

Polling place hours: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Register to Vote

How to Vote in Arkansas

Learn about all the options to vote in Arkansas to make a plan to vote that works for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Arkansas Board of Elections Phone Number: (800) 482-1127

Arkansas Board of Elections Website

Having trouble at the polls?

Call or text: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Register to Vote in Arkansas

Whether you are registering to vote for the first time, or need to update your address, name or party affiliation - we've got you covered!

Am I Registered?

Not sure if you are eligible to vote due to a felony conviction?
Click here to learn more.

Arkansas Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! You can check your voter registration online on Arkansas’ elections office website here, or you can contact the Board of Elections at 501-682-5070.

It can take several weeks. Most states send out voter registration cards within 5 to 7 weeks after receiving the registration. If you do not receive a registration card in the mail, contact your state election office to confirm you are registered. Find your state’s contact information in our How to Vote in Your State section on this page! In any event, you should verify your registration a week prior to the voter registration deadline in your state in case you need to fill out a new registration form or correct your form.

Elections take place all the time throughout the year, and odds are, you probably have an election coming up in your state! In addition to the presidential election and midterm elections, you have statewide, countywide and municipal elections that you can make your voice heard in. Make sure you know when your upcoming elections are so that you don’t miss a single one! Check out when your next election is here. [insert link]

Your state provides an online ballot tracking system. You can track your ballot here!

YES you are able to register to vote at your student address. You should provide your official campus mailing address as well as the actual physical address of your on or off campus residence when registering to vote. You must have some sort of proof of address and residency that can be presented at your polling place (mail, a student ID, etc.). For more information, we suggest visiting your state’s elections office website. Remember: you can only register to vote and vote in one place, whether that is your student address or your home address!

YES, unhoused voters can register to vote and use their voice in Arkansas’ elections. Unhoused voters or voters without a permanent address may list a shelter address, street corner, or park as their address. For more information on voting while unhoused, visit our friends at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

YES. In this case you must register at the last address you had before you left the USA, or at the address to which you will return to when returning to the USA (you must present some indication of a present intent to return and live there – e.g. vehicle registration, driver’s license, property ownership, family, etc). If you have never had a permanent address in the United States but are a citizen you are allowed to register at an address you plan on moving to or an address where you currently have family living. Access more information on voting overseas here.

You may call the voting rights hotline at 866 687-8683, if informing another poll worker isn’t successful. They have lawyers ready to help you. Additionally, you can call the civil rights division of the U.S Department of Justice.

You can also find Arkansas’ elections office here and contact them by phone at 501-682-5070.

Vote By Mail

Request and track

Notice: Mail-in voting is a convenient and safe way to vote, but your ballot might not count if it’s submitted late or with errors. So follow the directions below on how to vote early or absentee and make your vote count in Arkansas.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

10/29/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
11/05/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

Excuse required to vote by mail.

How Vote By Mail Works in Arkansas

Voting by mail is a two step process in Arkansas.

Step 1: Request your ballot NOW. You must have an excuse to qualify to vote by mail with an absentee ballot. If you qualify, you must submit an application to vote absentee to your county clerk.

The deadline for your application to be received by mail is 7 days before Election Day and in person is the Friday before Election Day.

Step 2: Complete and return your ballot ASAP.

  • Make a copy of your valid photo ID to return with your ballot. Info here on what qualifies as a valid ID.
  • Return in person to your county clerk's office on or before the Friday before Election Day. Find your county clerk's office here.
  • Or stamp and return by mail to your county clerk's office so that it is received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. We recommend mailing your ballot at least two weeks before as the post office is not always reliable. The best intentions or postmark will not matter if your ballot is received after Election Day - your ballot will not count.

Click Here to See Your Ballot

Where to Sign Your Ballot

Remember to sign your return ballot.

After completing your ballot, complete and sign the voter statement, and place it in envelope #2.

 

ID Requirements to Vote By Mail

First time voters must submit ID when voting by mail.

ID is required with completed mail-in ballot.

Arkansas requires a valid photo ID for in person voting and vote by mail.  When voting by mail, include a copy of your valid photo ID with your return your ballot. Info here on what qualifies for photo ID.

ID submitted with the ballot must include:

  • Voter’s name
  • Voter’s photo
  • Be issued by the state of Arkansas or an accredited post-secondary institution in Arkansas
  • If the expiration date is visible, the ID can not be expired more than four years past the election date

How You Can Return Your Mail-in Ballot

If you return your ballot by mail, you must add a stamp when mailing in your ballot. You can also return your ballot via commercial delivery services, such as FedEx or UPS (at your expense).

You can also drop off your ballot in person at your local elections office.

Can Someone Else Return Your Ballot For You?

Yes, a designated bearer may return your ballot. They must provide a current and valid photo ID to the county clerk, and must sign the register, under oath, when picking up or delivering an absentee ballot.

Track Your Ballot

Track your ballot by clicking here.

Haven't used your ballot?

If you have an absentee ballot that you are not going to use, or you miss the deadline to return, you may go to your polling place and vote in person. You should bring your ballot (if you have it) to the polls to surrender it in the "spoiling" process. If you do not have your ballot, you will be asked to vote using a provisional ballot.

Opportunities to Fix Challenges to Your Ballot

Arkansas does not offer voters a chance to address challenges to their ballot. Your ballot will not count if it is late, or you do not follow directions.

Voter ID

Do Voters Need ID?

Arkansas voters need to show ID at the polls to vote. ID must include name of voter and have a photo. If the ID is expired, it can be expired no more than 4 years prior to the election day. All valid forms of ID should be issued by the United States, the state of Arkansas, or an accredited post-secondary institution in the state of Arkansas. Valid forms of identification include;

  • Arkansas driver’s license
  • Arkansas photo identification card
  • Arkansas concealed handgun carry license
  • US passport
  • State or federal government employee identification
  • US military identification
  • Student ID/employee ID card from an accredited post-secondary institution in Arkansas
  • Public assistance ID card
  • Voter Verification Card

Voter ID in Arkansas

Find Your Ballot

Enter your address below to see what you can expect on Election Day.

Primaries

Automatic Registration

Your state automatically registers people to vote at the address on their drivers license or other state issued ID card. If you have moved but have not updated your ID with your new address, changed your name or want to add a political party selection, you must update your voter registration. Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote, and update your registration if needed.

Election Day Registration

You can register to vote and cast your ballot on Election Day at your polling place or local elections office. Bring a valid ID and proof of residence with you.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-Person Absentee Dates

10/21/2024
Voting Begins
11/04/2024
Voting Ends

You can vote in-person absentee in Arkansas

Early voting hours and locations are established by your county clerk.

Preregister

Some states have laws that specifically allow citizens to preregister at a certain age while others allow registration as long as you’re 18 by the next election. Preregistration means you’ll be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday without taking any additional steps.

In Arkansas, you can preregister to vote if you are 18 by the next election. Register to vote today!

Some states even let you vote in their primaries at 17 if you’ll be 18 by the general election so you can participate in the whole process!

You can not vote in the Arkansas primaries if you are 17 by the next election.