How to vote in Arkansas
On this page
Arkansas voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Arkansas registration using the Arkansas voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Arkansas you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be an Arkansas resident
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- not claim the right to vote in any other jurisdiction
- not be deemed mentally incompetent by a court
- If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed your entire sentence (including probation and parole) and paid any fines, fees, or restitution to register to vote. If you are re-registering to vote for the first time after your felony, you must provide proof of completion of your sentence along with a voter registration form.
Arkansas does not have online voter registration.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Provide your Arkansas driver’s license number or non-operating identification number. If you do not have either of these numbers, provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you do not have any of these numbers, write “NONE” in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a political party in order to take part in that party's primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 30 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Arkansas driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Arkansas address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are restored following fulfillment of prison, parole, probation, and the payment of all fees, including court-ordered restitution. This will not happen automatically. You must provide proof to the county clerk that you (1) have been discharged from probation or parole, (2) paid all probation or parole fees, (3) satisfied all terms of imprisonment, and (4) paid all applicable court costs, fines, or restitution.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Arkansas absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the request deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 4 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
You may vote by absentee ballot in Arkansas if:
- you will be unavoidably absent from your polling site on Election Day
- you will be unable to vote in person on Election Day due to illness or physical disability
- you are an Arkansas resident who is living overseas
- you are an active duty member of the military or merchant marine who is stationed away from home, or the spouse or dependent of such a person.
Arkansas does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Arkansas absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 4 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must include a photocopy of a valid photo ID with your voted ballot. Your ID must show your must show your name and must have been issued by the State of Arkansas, the Federal Government, or an accredited Arkansas school. If the ID is expired, it cannot have expired more than 4 years ago. If you are unable to provide a copy of acceptable ID, you may sign an affidavit.
Track your ballot here: Arkansas absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, if your signature doesn't match the signature the state has one file for you, or if you forget to include a copy of your ID with your voted ballot.
- You must fix these issues by noon on the 6th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you are hospitalized and no longer able to vote in person. You may designate a person to deliver your application and pick up your ballot. Your voted ballot must be returned to the county clerk office no later than 7:30PM on Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is 7:30PM Election Day
Contact your local election office
Arkansas early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 14 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Arkansas, the Federal Government, or any accredited Arkansas college or university. If your ID is expired, it must be expired no more than four years before the date of the election. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can vote using a provisional ballot.
Arkansas voter ID guide
You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Arkansas, the Federal Government, or any accredited Arkansas college or university. If your ID is expired, it must be expired no more than four years before the date of the election. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can vote using a provisional ballot.
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
You must include a photocopy of a valid photo ID with your voted ballot. Your ID must show your must show your name and must have been issued by the State of Arkansas, the Federal Government, or an accredited Arkansas school. If the ID is expired, it cannot have expired more than 4 years ago. If you are unable to provide a copy of acceptable ID, you may sign an affidavit.
Arkansas does not have online voter registration.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Arkansas elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State Voter Services P.O. Box 8111 Little Rock, AR 72203‐8111