We are rapidly approaching an important deadline in Arkansas. October 5 is the last day you can register to vote and still cast a ballot in the November general election. Because the deadline this year falls on a Sunday, the Secretary of State’s office will continue to accept applications the following business day.
The Secretary of State’s office reports that 1.6 million Arkansans are currently registered. That leaves over a half million adults in our state who have not registered.
Your vote this election will help determine who will serve as our next governor, one of our United States Senators, our attorney general and perhaps your local state representative and state senator. There are also several ballot initiatives which could impact everything from minimum wage to term limits.
To register to vote in Arkansas you must be a U.S. citizen, reside in Arkansas at least 30 days prior to the first election in which you will vote, and be at least 18 years old before the next election on November 4.
There are several ways to register. You can apply by mail by obtaining an application from your county clerk or the Secretary of State’s office.
You can also fill out an application in person at your local:
•County clerk’s office
•State Revenue office
•Public library
•Public assistance agency
•Disability agency
•Military recruitment office
•Arkansas National Guard
Consider yourself registered when and only when you receive acknowledgement from your county clerk. If you have not received any acknowledgement in the mail in two weeks, you should call your county clerk and check on the status of your application. You can also check your voter registration status online by visiting www.voterview.org
We also want to remind you to have your photo identification ready to present at the voting booth. If you do not have an identification card, you can obtain a voter ID free of charge at your local county clerk’s office.
Early voting begins October 20. We encourage you to study the races and the issues before heading to the polls. You can find more information on voting regulations and sample ballots at www.votenaturally.org.