At a Glance: Arkansas

Arkansas Voting Rules

Voter Registration Form:
Forms can be found here.

Deadline to Register:
Voter registration forms must be postmarked or hand delivered at least 30 days prior to the general election (Oct 5, 2008).

Voter Eligibility:
In order to vote in Arkansas, an individual must: be a US citizen; be a resident of Arkansas; be at least 18 years of age by Election Day; not presently be judged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; not have been convicted of a felony without sentence having been discharged or pardoned; and not claim the right to vote in another county or state.

Identification Requirements:
If the individual is a first time registrant submitting application by mail, a copy of 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 their name and address should be submitted with their application in order to avoid additional ID requirements upon voting for the first time.

Where to Turn in Your Registration:
Voter registration forms should be submitted to the Secretary of States Office at:
Secretary of State
ATTN: Voter Registration
P. O. Box 8111
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-8111

How to Register Others:
All voter registration forms must be turned in to the Secretary of States Office no longer than 21 days after their completion. There are no other regulations on registering voters.

Absentee Voting:
Absentee voting is allowed. Excuses are required.
Excuses: In order to vote absentee registered voters must meet at least one of the following: be unavoidably absent from their polling site on Election Day (the law does not require you to give a reason); be unable to attend their polling site on Election Day due to illness or physical disability; be a member of the U.S. armed forces, merchant marines or the spouse or a dependent family member; be a U.S. citizen domiciled in Arkansas but temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States.
Application Process: Applications to vote absentee can be found here.
Applications to vote absentee should be returned to the voter’s local County Clerk’s Office. A list of County Clerk’s Offices can be found here.
Dates: Requests for absentee ballots must be received by the County Clerk’s Office no later than the day before Election Day (Nov 3, 2008) if the request is made in person or by a designated bearer, or no later than seven days before the election (Oct 28, 2008) if the request is sent through the mail.
Absentee Ballots must be returned to the voter’s local County Clerk’s Office no later than 7:30pm on Election Day if sent through the mail, delivered by designated bearer or by an authorized agent. If the voter wishes to hand-deliver the ballot, it must be received by the County Clerk's Office no later than the end of regular business hours on the day before the election (Nov 3, 2008).

Early Vote:
Early voting is available. No excuses are necessary. Registered voters may early vote at their local County Clerks Office beginning 15 days before the election (Oct 20, 2008) and ending the Monday before the election (Nov 3, 2008).

For More Information
Secretary of State
State Capitol, Rm 256
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone 501-682-1010
Secretary of State Elections Division Hotline 1-800-482-1127
E-mail: General_info@sos.arkansas.gov
Visit their website

Info about veterans, voting in other states, etc.

Please see this website for more information on U.S. Military Voter Services and voting overseas.

Click here to return to our Voter Registration Action Center home page.

Read our voter registration event guide here.

Visit Arkansas' state home page.