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 4 days 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 4 days 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 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
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