Stacey McCullough
Director
Phone: 501-671-2078
Email: smccullough@uada.edu
Kristin Higgins
Program Associate
Phone: 501-671-2160
Email: khiggins@uada.edu
The Public Policy Center connects Arkansas voters with helpful information about the voting process. If you have questions about state or local ballot issues, or about where you can find more voter information, send us your question at publicpolicycenter@uada.edu.
This year is a major election year in Arkansas. Local, state, federal and judicial candidates will be on the ballot in the November General Election. Proposals to changing the state constitution will also be on the November ballot.
Starting in 2024, communities will now be required to put special issues on the same ballot as candidate elections. Examples of special issues include sales tax proposals and bond issues.
Save these dates:
Below are frequently asked questions about the voting process in Arkansas, as well as educational resources to use with children or adults learning about voting.
Find neutral information on Arkansas ballot issues at www.uaex.uada.edu/ballot.
Elections in Arkansas Handout (English) Elecciones en Arkansas Folleto (Espanol)
Registering to vote is the first step you must take if you want to participate in local, state and federal elections in Arkansas.
There are some basic requirements you must meet to vote in Arkansas elections, including (1) Being an Arkansas resident, (2) Being a United States Citizen, (3) Being 18 or older, (4) Have not been convicted of a felony, or if you have been convicted of a felony, have completed your sentence and paid off all fines ("being off paper"), and (5) Have not been judged mentally incompetent by a court.
No. In Arkansas, people must fill out a paper voter registration form. You can mail the completed form to your county clerk's office or drop it off at their office in person.
You can pick up a paper voter registration application in several different locations in your community.
If you don't see the forms on displayed on a table at the location, ask an employee for help.
You can also print off a paper application from the Secretary of State's website.
You can also ask the Secretary of State to mail you a voter registration application.
Turn in your voter registration form to your county clerk's office. You can do this in person or by mailing the form to the county clerk.
Applications obtained from the Secretary of State's Office have a return address with their office listed. Once they receive your application, they will send your information to your county.
Arkansans can register to vote at any time. If you want to vote in a specific election, you must be registered at least 30 days before an election.
Yes. The application lists three possible check boxes for an ID number:
Life is complicated so this is a good question. You can only register to vote at one address.
To vote in an upcoming election, a person must submit a voter registration form at least 30 days prior to the election. A 17-year-old may register to vote ahead of time, but can only vote if he or she is 18 as of Election Day.
People who have been convicted of felonies can vote in Arkansas only after they have completed their sentence and paid off all fines and fees.
Steps To Restoring Voting Rights
Source: Pulaski County Clerk's Office
It's good to check your voter registration status every now and then to make sure your address is up to date.
There are several ways to check if you are currently registered to vote in Arkansas, as well as to check your voter registration information to make sure it's up to date.
If it has been more than two weeks since you submitted your voter registration form, call your county clerk’s office.
Phone numbers for the county clerk offices in Arkansas can be found at https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/ARCountyClerks.pdf
If you moved from one county or state to another county or state, then yes.
If you moved within the same county or city, update your voter information with the county clerk. The clerk may ask you to fill out another form.
State law requires that you submit your updated registration to the county clerk in your new county no later than four days before a scheduled election so you can vote there. If your application arrives less than four days before an election, you will not be eligible to vote in your new county for that election.
Yes. This helps county clerks remove erroneous information from their voter rolls.
Registering to vote is behind you. You are ready to finally vote. But you have questions.
Even long-time voters have questions about the process. Voting may look different from county to county - some county election workers may hand you a paper ballot whereas in another location you may be voting on a machine.
Your county clerk's office is the best place to seek answers about your particular situation, but the basic Q&As below may be helpful, too.
This information is public record. You can look at an example of your election ballot a head of time to help research or prepare to vote.
Many newspapers publish sample ballots or the information you will see on Election Day. You can often find a sample ballot online on a county clerk or election commission website, too.
Examples of your ballot can also be found on the Secretary of State's Voter View website, www.voterview.ar-nova.org/VoterView.
Most Arkansas counties participate in this information sharing. If you do not find your sample ballot, contact your county clerk's office.
You can also find neutral information on all Arkansas statewide ballot issues on our website, www.uaex.uada.edu/ballot
The address for the building where you are supposed to vote may change depending on the type of election. (For example, early voting versus a special election versus a federal election).
Look at the voter registration card you received when you first registered to vote. The card should have an address for where you are assigned to vote.
Many counties in Arkansas have also started using "Voting Centers," or a voting location that is open to everyone in the county to cast their vote.
Still unsure? Contact your county clerk's office or check out the Secretary of State's Voter View website for voting locations, www.voterview.ar-nova.org
Early voting hours may vary by county but on Election Day itself, voting locations are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Contact your county clerk for early voting hours and locations.
Arkansas lawmakers and voters have passed laws requiring people show photo identification in order to vote in any election. Recently, Act 249 of 2021 removed the option for voters to sign an affidavit instead swearing to their identity.
Voting in-person
Voting with an absentee ballot
Source: Washington County Election Commission: www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/election-commission/new-voter-id-law/voter-id-breakdown
Voting by absentee ballot is a multi-step process with its own deadlines. Find information about how to apply for and receive an absentee ballot on the Secretary of State's Office website.
Under Arkansas law, voters have 10 minutes to complete their ballot when voting in person.
Anyone can distribute voter registration applications in Arkansas.
If you are hosting a voter registration drive, check out the Secretary of State’s
tips at
www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/voter_drive.pdf
Find phone numbers and emails for county clerks in Arkansas at https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/County_Clerk_Contact_List_-_Rev._8-19-2020_.pdf
Sign up to become a poll worker through the Secretary of State's website.
The process citizens must follow to put a constitutional amendment, state law or referendum on their statewide ballot differs from state to state, as does the number of votes needed to approve a constitutional amendment.
Teaching youth about ballot issues and why they should research before voting?
Use these educational activities: