ARKANSAS, USA — According to the Arkansas Secretary of State, the following criteria must be met before an individual can register to vote:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be an Arkansas resident.
- Be age 18 or turn 18 on or 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
Once eligible, individuals must first fill out an application that can be found at the following sites:
- Your local county clerk
- The Arkansas Secretary of State Elections Division: 1-800-482-1127.
- Local revenue or DMV office.
- Public library
- Disability agency
- Military recruitment office
- Online form to request an application through the mail:
- Print a Form:
Residents will know that their registration application has been approved when they are sent a personalized voter registration card from the local county clerk. This could take up to several weeks.
You can also check your voter registration status online by visiting www.voterview.org.
To read more about the voter registration process, visit the Arkansas Secretary of State's website here or call 501-682-1010.
Dr. Williams Yamkam is an associate professor of political science at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. He's hopeful people will turn out to vote.
“If history is any guide we usually see a dip in voter turnout in midterm elections compared to a general election," Dr. Yamkam said.
He says the groups that got all four issues on the ballot have deployed a ground game to get people to the polls.
“Hopefully the combination of voter engagement from the various candidates on the ballot and those who are supportive or even against the issues that will be on the ballot, that will result in higher voter turnout."
If you won't be able to vote in person, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is November 1.
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