Arkansas

2024 Voting Information and Resources for Disabled Voters

Email organizing@newdisabledsouth.org to request this page in document format.

Have questions about voting, need assistance or want to report any barriers you ran into registering or voting? 

Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

ASL Hotline: 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683)

The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 General Election has passed. 

  • Voting in person

    • Early Voting: 

      • Early Voting is from Monday, October 21 to Monday, November 4. 

      • Any voter can vote in person during Early Voting

      • Make your plan to vote early to get it out of the way in case something comes up! 

    • Make your plan to vote: 

      • Find your polling place

      • You must have an accepted photo ID to vote (if you do not have an accepted photo ID, you can vote if two election officials sign a statement confirming your identity). Have questions about ID or need help getting an ID? Call or text VoteRiders at 866-432-8683

      • Decide how you’re going to get to and from your polling place. Arrange your transportation ahead of time, don’t wait until Election Day! 

      • Get your friends, family or neighbors to go vote with you

      • Find out what will be on your ballot

        • by calling your local election office or by visiting Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Lookup

        • There may be ballot measures, local offices, state offices and federal offices on your ballot. 

        • A ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that you can vote on. They can include important questions about supporting your community & keeping it safe. 

        • State level politicians shape policies & make decisions about programs like Medicaid, waivers, healthcare, affordable housing, schools & more!

        • Local politicians decide things like where or how much public transportation there is, access to voting and how smooth or clean our streets are. 

      • Research the candidates and issues before you vote: 

  • Voting by mail/absentee

    • If you have a disability or will be away from home on Election Day, you can vote by mail in Arkansas. 

    • A Designated Bearer or Administrator may return your application for an absentee ballot or your completed ballot to your county clerk. 

      • A Designated Bearer or Administrator is anyone you choose to pick up and/or deliver your application or ballot. 

    • Requesting your ballot:

      • Tuesday, October 29: deadline to MAIL in your request for a mail-in ballot 

      • Close of business on Friday, November 1: deadline to APPLY IN PERSON for a mail-in ballot

      • If you want or need to vote by mail you have two options for how to request an absentee ballot:

        •  request to have an absentee ballot application mailed to you by contacting the county clerk in the county where you’re registered to vote 

        • Download and complete the absentee ballot application then return this application to the county clerk in the county where you are registered to vote. 

    • Returning your ballot:

      • Friday, November 1 by 5:00 PM: deadline to hand deliver your completed ballot to your county clerk

      • Tuesday, November 5 by 7:30 PM: if you mail in your completed ballot, this is the deadline for your ballot to be received

  • Assistance for Voters with Disabilities in Arkansas: 

    • If you have a disability or you will be away from home on Election Day, you can vote by mail in this state. This is called absentee voting 

    • If you need help voting in person, you are allowed to have someone help you

      • “You may choose someone you know to help you vote or ask for help from a poll worker at the polling place. Your boss cannot help you vote. If you are part of a labor union at work, the person who helps you vote cannot be your labor union representative” - from AAPD’s Arkansas Voter Guide

    • Every polling place is required to have at least one accessible voting machine (sometimes called a ballot marking device). Every voter is allowed to use this machine. The poll workers can teach you how to use it.

      • Ways an accessible voting machine can help you vote: 

        • You can use a touch screen or tactile keypad to click through each question and mark your choices. Some accessible machines also allow you to plug in a sip-and-puff device. 

        • You can make the font bigger and change the colors to make the ballot easier to read. 

        • The voting machine also has headphones. The machine can read your ballot out loud to you, so you can listen to the questions.

        • You can go back through your ballot choices and make sure you selected the right ones before printing your ballot and casting your vote. 

    • Arkansas does not usually allow people to vote outside their polling place if it’s inaccessible. You can contact the local election office with questions or to request accommodations. 

Resources & additional information for disabled voters: 

  • AAPD's Arkansas voting guide

  • Disability Rights Arkansas voting guide

  • Your Vote Counts: A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Voting in the US (Plain Language version)

  • What if I have questions about voting, need assistance or want to report any barriers I faced with voting? Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

  • Can I vote if I have a disability? Yes! People with disabilities who are 18 or older have the right to vote. Your vote matters and is protected by law to make sure that you can vote independently, accessibly and privately. 

  • Can I vote if I have a guardian? If you are under guardianship in Arkansas you should contact Disability Rights Arkansas at (800) 482-1174 to see if you can vote. 

Other voting resources: