Arkansas Explained: How to register to vote in the midterms

In just under five weeks, Arkansans will have the opportunity to cast their vote for municipal, state and federal offices during the midterm elections. 

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton are seeking reelection, as are all four of Arkansas’ congressmen. The six Republicans all have challengers for their seats.

More than 1.8 million Arkansans are registered to vote, according to the secretary of state’s office, and there’s still time for more to register ahead of the Oct. 5 deadline. 

Here’s what you need to know about registering to vote in the Nov. 3 election:

How do I know if I’m already registered to vote?

You can check your voter registration, view sample ballots and find polling locations here. 

How do I register to vote?

Voter Guide: 2026 General Election

You must fill out and submit a paper voter registration application by Oct. 5. Arkansans cannot register to vote online.

You can obtain a form from your local county clerk, revenue office, Department of Motor Vehicles office, public library, disability agency, military recruitment office or the Arkansas secretary of state elections division.

You can also request a form through the mail or print a form here. Applications are available in English or Spanish.

How do I know if I’m eligible to vote?

To register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, an Arkansas resident and at least 18 years old or turn 18 on or before the next election.

You can’t be a convicted felon whose sentence has not been discharged or pardoned. You also can’t be deemed “mentally incompetent as to your ability to vote by a court of competent jurisdiction,” according to the secretary of state’s office.

What documentation do I need to register to vote?

You need to provide your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on your application. 

If you don’t possess either a driver’s license or Social Security number, you can select the option indicating that on your application.

Do I need to register with a political party to vote in the midterms?

No.

Democrats see rare signs of hope in solidly red Arkansas’ midterms

The majority of Arkansans are not registered with a political party. Approximately 1.6 million Arkansans are registered as “Party Optional,” according to the secretary of state’s office. 

Nearly 85,000 voters are registered Democrats and more than 154,000 are registered Republicans. As of Friday, there were 754 voters registered with the Libertarian Party and 124 voters registered with the Green Party.

How do I know when I’m registered to vote?

Your local county clerk will send you a personalized voter registration card once your application is processed, and it could take several weeks. 

Arkansans should not assume they’re registered until they’ve received their voter registration card, according to the secretary of state’s office. 

You can check on your application’s status by calling your local county clerk or visiting www.voterview.org.  

Once I’m registered, when can I vote?

Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Nov. 2. Election Day is Nov. 3.

During early voting, polls are open from  8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Early voting ends at 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to the election. 

On Election Day, polls are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You will be allowed to vote as long as you are in line by 7:30 p.m. 

More information about the election is available on the Advocate’s 2026 Voter Guide.