What voter ID rule does Arkansas use?

Arkansas is listed as Strict photo ID. Review the accepted ID forms and voter-without-ID procedures before voting.

What time do polls open in Arkansas?

Polling places in Arkansas are generally open 7:30 AM-7:30 PM. Confirm your assigned polling place before Election Day.

Arkansas Voting Guide

Q: Can I register to vote online in Arkansas?

Arkansas lists online voter registration as not available. Online voter registration is not listed as an available option in the source data.

Q: Where can I check my Arkansas voter registration or polling place?

The Arkansas voter lookup section lists tools for check your voter registration status, check your polling place location, view your sample ballot, and check your absentee application and ballot status.

Register

Arkansas voter registration options

Arkansas voters may register by mail or in person. Registration deadlines may vary by election type or method where noted.

Online Not available

Online voter registration is not listed as an available option in the source data.

By Mail Available

You must mail your application to an official voter registration agency no later than 30 days prior to an election in which you wish to vote. The postmark on a mail-in application will be considered the submission date.

Mail registration must meet the state deadline 30 days before Election Day.

Click here to get started

In Person Available

You must submit your application to an official voter registration agency or mail it no later than 30 days prior to an election in which you wish to vote.

In-person registration must be completed 30 days before Election Day.

Click here to get the address and phone number for the board of registrars office in your county

military overseas Available

Military and overseas voters may have additional registration options.

Federal Post Card Application

national_form

The National Mail Voter Registration Form may also be available where accepted.

registration_status

Consider yourself registered when- and only when- you receive an acknowledgment from your county clerk. This could take several weeks, regardless of your method of application. Never assume you are registered to vote until you have received this acknowledgment. Call your county clerk after two weeks and inquire about the status of your application. Check your voter registration status online by visiting www.voterview.org.

Identification

Arkansas voter ID laws

Arkansas voter ID rule: Strict photo ID.

Strict photo ID

Arkansas voter ID rule: Strict photo ID.

Code: Ark. Const., Amend. 51, § 13, Ark. Code Ann. § 7-1-101, Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-201, and 5 more

Accepted forms of ID

Arkansas driver's license
Arkansas photo identification card
Concealed handgun carry license
United States passport
Employee badge or identification document issued by an accredited Arkansas postsecondary educational institution
United States military identification document
Public assistance identification card containing a photograph
Voter verification card

If you do not have ID

A voter who does not present acceptable identification may cast a provisional ballot.
The provisional ballot will be counted only if the voter presents acceptable identification to the county clerk or county election board by noon on the Monday following the election.

Polling Places

Arkansas poll hours

Polling places in Arkansas are generally open 7:30 AM-7:30 PM.

7:30 AM-7:30 PM

Code Ann. § 7-5-304: The polls shall be opened at 7:30 a.m., and they shall remain open continuously until 7:30 p.m. In all counties, when the polls close, all persons who have presented themselves for voting and who are then in line at the polling site shall be permitted to cast their votes.

Poll hours source

Absentee Voting

Arkansas absentee and mail voting

To receive an absentee ballot, you need to request to have an absentee ballot application sent to you by contacting your County Clerk (click here) in the county where you are registered to vote. You may also download an absentee ballot application (click here).

Must have an excuse to vote absentee ballot

To receive an absentee ballot, you need to request to have an absentee ballot application sent to you by contacting your County Clerk (click here) in the county where you are registered to vote. You may also download an absentee ballot application (click here).

Absentee Voting Eligibility

To be qualified to vote an absentee ballot, you must meet one of the following criteria:

You will be unavoidably absent from your polling site on election day, OR
You will be unable to attend your polling site on election day due to illness or physical disability, OR
You are a member of the Uniformed Services, merchant marines or the spouse or a dependant family member and are away from your polling location due to the member's active duty status, OR
A U.S. citizen whose residence is in Arkansas but is temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States.

Absentee Voting Eligibility

Request an absentee ballot

In Person: by close of business the day BEFORE the election
By Designated Bearer or Administrator: by close of business the day BEFORE the election (Designated Bearer is anyone you choose to pick up or deliver your application or ballot)
By Mail or by Electronic Means: by 7 days before the election
By Authorized Agent: by 1:30 p.m. ON election day. The authorized agent must file with the County Clerk an affidavit from the administrative head of a hospital or nursing home located in this state verifying that the applicant is a patient...
By Designated Bearers: no earlier than 15 days before a preferential primary election, general election, school election or special election and no earlier than 7 days before a runoff election.
By Anyone Else: no deadline specified in Arkansas law. You should base your ballot pick up on the ability to return it to the County Clerk on time.

Request an absentee ballot

Return an absentee ballot

In Person: by close of business the day BEFORE the election
By Designated Bearer: by 7:30 p.m. ON election day
By Mail: received at clerks office by 7:30 p.m. ON election day. You may NOT fax or email a ballot. UOCAVA voters must vote their ballot by Election Day, and it must be received by their county clerk by 5:00p.m. 10 days after the election.

Return an absentee ballot

Absentee voting source

Ways to Vote

Arkansas voting options

Voting options available in Arkansas.

Voting In Person at the Polls

Your precinct is determined by where you live and the polling site is assigned by your county election commission. Most local newspapers publish a list of polling sites within a few days of an election

Click here to locate voting locations

Voting By Absentee Ballot

You may vote absentee ballot if You will be unavoidably absent from your polling site on Election Day, or You will be unable to attend your polling site due to illness or physical disability.

View more information on Absentee voting in Arkansas

Early Voting

Depending on the type of election being conducted, you may early vote during the 7 or 15 days prior to Election Day.

Click here to locate early voting locations

Provisional Voting

If you registered to vote but your name does not appear on the precinct voter registration list, or if you are unable to comply with identification requirements, you have the right to cast a Provisional Ballot after signing an affirmation that you are a registered voter in the county and are eligible to vote in that election.

View more information on voting in Arkansas

Voting options source

Eligibility

Arkansas voter eligibility

Under federal law, if you move within 30 days of a presidential election, you are allowed to vote for President and Vice President in your former state of residence, either in person or by absentee ballot.

Age requirements

Voting age: Be age 18 or turn 18 on or before the next election.

Registration age: You must be 18 or turn 18 on or before the next Election Day to register.

To register to vote in the State of Arkansas, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

Be a United States Citizen;
Be an Arkansas resident;
Age 18 or you will be 18 before the next election;
Not be a convicted felon whose sentence has not been discharged or pardoned;
Not be presently adjudged as mentally incompetent as to your ability to vote by a court of competent jurisdiction; and
Not claiming the right to vote elsewhere - in another county in Arkansas or another state.

Eligibility source

Voting Rights

Arkansas felony conviction voting rights

In Arkansas, people with felony convictions lose voting rights until they complete the sentence, which may include parole, probation, and sometimes financial obligations; voting rights are automatically restored afterward.

Lost Until Completion of Sentence; Automatic Restoration After

In Arkansas, people with felony convictions lose voting rights until they complete the sentence, which may include parole, probation, and sometimes financial obligations; voting rights are automatically restored afterward.

Citation: Ark. Const. Amend. 51, § 11(d)(2)(A-D)).

Felony voting rights source

Work and Voting

Arkansas time off for voting

Each employer in the state shall schedule the work hours of employees on election days so that each employee will have an opportunity to exercise the right of franchise. Any employer who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this section shall upon conviction be subject to a fine of not less than...

Time off status: Yes

Each employer in the state shall schedule the work hours of employees on election days so that each employee will have an opportunity to exercise the right of franchise. Any employer who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this section shall upon conviction be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

Arkansas 7-1-102. Work time to be scheduled for voting

Each employer in the state shall schedule the work hours of employees on election days so that each employee will have an opportunity to exercise the right of franchise. Any employer who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this section shall upon conviction be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

Arkansas Code

Lookup

Arkansas voter information lookup

Check Your Voter Registration Status.

Voter Information Lookup

Use the lookup tool to check your voter registration status, check your polling place location, view your sample ballot, and check your absentee application and ballot status.

Find polling place and ballot details

Moving

Arkansas moving and student voting

Address change and student voting information for Arkansas.

Movers AND College Students Voting

Address change and student voting information for Arkansas.

Movers/college students Voting

I have moved twice in the last few years to different counties in Arkansas, but never transferred my previous voter registrations. How can I transfer my name from the old voter rolls and move my registration to my new county of residence?

In Arkansas, moving across county lines requires transferring the registration to the new county. Be sure to submit your updated registration to the county clerk in your new county no later than four days before a scheduled election so you...
Periodically, counties will mail notices to voters who have not voted in several elections in order to update voter rolls. If you receive such a notice, it is important that you mark your correct address and return the card to the county...

College Students Voting

Register at School or Home

As a student, you have a constitutional right to register and vote. You have a choice about where to register to vote either at your campus address or choose to remain registered or register at your permanent or home address. But before you make the important decision about where to vote, make sure you know the rules of registering to vote and voting in that state.

Colleege Student

At School. Students can establish residency in Arkansas if they have a present intention to remain at their Arkansas school address for the time being, and they intend to make it their principal home.[8] Any other interpretation of the...
Voting in Arkansas may be considered a declaration of residency, potentially making you subject to other laws that govern state residents.

Learn more

Address change source