Can you vote by mail in Arkansas? Check here.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — As Election Day approaches on Nov. 8, you may be wondering if it’s possible to vote by mail in the state of Arkansas.

Eight states conduct elections entirely by mail, while 27 more and Washington DC offer “no-excuse” absentee voting to anyone who requests it. The process is different in Arkansas, as an absentee voter must qualify for one of the following qualifying reasons:

• You will inevitably be absent from your polling place on election day, OR
• You will not be able to attend the polling station on election day due to illness or physical disability, OR
• You are a member of the uniformed services, merchant marine, or spouse or dependent family member and are away from your polling place due to active member status, OR
• A US citizen who is domiciled in Arkansas but temporarily resides outside the territorial boundaries of the United States.

If you meet one of the above criteria, you can register to vote absentee here. Once completed, you can submit the request in person to your county clerk or by other means of your choice.

Here are the deadlines for submitting an application and ballot and the acceptable methods for doing so.

Absentee voting application deadline:

• Live: until close of business on the Friday BEFORE the election.
• By the designated holder or administrator: by close of business on the Friday BEFORE the election (A Designated Holder is anyone you choose to pick up and/or deliver your application or ballot)
• By post or email: up to seven days before the election.
• By an authorized agent: until 13:30 ON election day. The authorized agent must file with the county clerk an affidavit from the administrative head of a hospital or nursing home located in this state certifying that the applicant is a patient of a hospital or long-term care facility or residential care facility licensed by the state and is therefore unable to vote on election day at their regular polling station.

Deadline for collecting ballots:

• By the nominees: no earlier than 15 days before a preferential primary election, general election, school election or special election and no earlier than 7 days before a runoff election.
• From anyone else: Arkansas law does not specify a deadline. You should base your choice of ballot on your ability to return it to the county clerk on time.

Deadline for delivery of the voted ballot to the county clerk:

• Live: until close of business on the Friday BEFORE the election.
• By specific carrier: until close of business on the Friday BEFORE the election.
• By mail: received in the clerk’s office by 7:30 p.m. ON election day
• By an authorized agent: until 19:30 ON election day

You cannot fax or email your ballot. You can contact the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office with any questions or concerns at [email protected].

And you can contact your county clerk with any questions about absentee voting in your county. Detailed instructions on filling out the absentee ballot are available here.