Arkansas Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should visit the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Important Deadlines

• Voter Registration Form: Postmarked at least 30 days before the election
• Absentee Ballot Application: Received by the Tuesday before the election (by mail or fax); Received by close of business the day before the election (in person)
• Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7:30pm on election day

How to vote by absentee ballot

Register to vote

Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget. Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  

You can also download and fill out Arkansas's voter registration form.  Mail your completed form to your County Clerk.

Verify your voter registration

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can verify your voter registration here.

Make sure you're eligible to vote by absentee ballot

You can vote by absentee ballot in Arkansas if you fall into one of the following categories: 

• 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 U.S. armed forces, merchant marines or the spouse or a dependant family member, OR
• a U.S. citizen domiciled in Arkansas but temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States.

Apply for your absentee ballot

The fastest way to apply for your absentee ballot is to use the application we've created:  Arkansas Absentee Ballot Application.  Mail your completed application to your County Clerk.  (Note: there's no formal statewide application, but the one we've created meets all legal requirements and has been used hundreds of times without issue)

You can also call your County Clerk and ask them to send you a county-specific absentee ballot application.  This will take slightly longer, however, since they'll have to mail it to you and you'll have to mail it back. 

Receive, complete and return your absentee ballot

Fill out your ballot, sign where indicated, put a stamp on it, and then mail your absentee ballot back to your County Clerk.  Be sure to meet the deadline or your ballot won't be counted!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to provide ID when I register to vote?

If you are a first-time Arkansas voter and you register to vote by mail, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot.  If you'd like, you can meet the ID requirements by including a copy of your ID with your voter registration form.  Acceptable forms of ID include a COPY of a current and valid photo identification that shows your name and address OR a COPY of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address.

Do I need to provide ID when I vote by absentee ballot? 

You do not need to provide ID if you've already voted at least once.  If you are first-time Arkansas voter who registered to vote by mail - and you did NOT include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form - you'll need to include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot application.  Acceptable forms of ID includea COPY of a current and valid photo identification and address OR a COPY of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address.

Additional Information