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Absentee Voting

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Information and Forms

                  For any Election in 2025, you must fill out a new Absentee Ballot Application after January 1, 2025  

QUALIFICATIONS TO RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

Reason 1    You will be unavoidably absent from your polling site on Election Day
Reason 2 You will be unable to attend your polling site on Election Day due to illness or physical disability
Reason 3  You are a member of the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marines or the spouse or a dependent family member and are away from your polling location due to the member’s active duty status (Covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act or UOCAVA)
Reason 4  You are a U.S. citizen whose residence is in Arkansas but is temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States (UOCAVA)

 

HOW TO RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

Step 1 
Request an Absentee Ballot Application
  You can request an absentee ballot application be sent to you by calling the County Clerk at 444-1711 or emailing: absentee@washingtoncountyar.gov
  You may also download an Absentee Ballot Application (For application click here)
  UOCAVA voters have an additional delivery options for their absentee ballot
Step 2 
Complete the Absentee Ballot Application
  Check the reason you are requesting an absentee ballot
  Check where you reside—This information is to determine if are considered a UOCAVA voter
 

Request an Absentee Ballot for the following election(s):

You may only choose one election or election cycle                

  • Nonpartisan General Election Only
  • Preferential Primary/ Nonpartisan General & Preferential Primary Runoff
  • Annual School Election & Runoff
  • General Election/Nonpartisan Runoff and General Election Runoff
  • Special Election:  Include Date and Election

  • Or If eligible
    • All Elections for one calendar year: Must be a voter with a disability, in a long-term or residential care facility, or living outside the county
    • All Elections through the next Federal General Election cycle: Must be a UOCAVA voter
Step 3 
How do you wish to receive your Absentee Ballot? Make selection on Absentee Ballot Application
  By Mail from the County Clerk's office
  Electronic Means ( Only available for UOCAVA Voters)
  By having a Designated Bearer, Administrator, or Authorized Agent pick up your ballot in person from the County Clerk's office
  *A designated bearer may obtain or deliver absentee ballots for no more than 2 voters per election and may only do so within the 15 days before a school election, preferential primary, or general election or the 7 days before a runoff or general primary election. A bearer, administrator, or agent must provide a current and valid photo ID to the Clerk and must sign the register, under oath, when picking up or delivering an absentee ballot.
  In person by coming to the County Clerk's office before the close of business on the Friday before the Election.
Step 4 
Return the Absentee Ballot Application
   By Mail or Electronic Means: by 7 days before the Election 
 

 From the United States Postal Service:

If you opt to vote through the U.S. Mail, make sure you’re familiar with your local jurisdiction’s requirements for absentee and Vote-by-Mail ballots. Contact your local election officials about ballot submission deadlines. We recommend that domestic non-military voters mail ballots at least 1 week early to allow for timely receipt and processing by election officials.

 
   By Designated Bearer or Administrator, by close of business the Friday Before the Election
   In person: by close of business the Friday Before the Election
   By Authorized Agent by 1:30 p.m. 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 verifying that the applicant is a patient of the hospital or a long term-care or residential care facility licensed by the state and is thereby unable to vote on Election Day at his or her regular polling site
Step  5
Receiving your Absentee Ballot
  Once your absentee ballot application has been received and processed you will receive your absentee ballot and voter statement in the mail, by person or electronically (UOCAVA Voters only).
  Absentee Ballots start going out 46 days before the Election: 
  You can check your absentee ballot status by going to www.voterview.org
 

Voterview will show:

  • The date your ballot was mailed
  • Your ballot your ballot was received in the County Clerk's office
  • Your ballot status ( Accepted or Rejected)

 

  Absentee Ballot
  If you have not received your absentee ballot in a timely manner based on when you requested your ballot please call the County Clerk’s office at 479-444-1711

 

RETURNING YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT

Step 1
Complete your Voter Statement
  This Voter Statement is used to verify your information with the absentee application, and must be completed and returned with your absentee ballot. If you fail to complete your voter statement with this information your absentee ballot will not count.
  Print your Name
  Print your Date of Birth
  Print your Address in Washington County
  Sign your Name
  A check list will be provided with your Voter Statement.   
Step 2
Provide a copy of Approved Photo ID (Examples are included on the Voter Statement or Click Here for more information concerning Approved Photo ID)
  If you are unable to provide a copy of Approved Photo ID,  you will have until noon on the Monday following the Election to present the required ID in person to the County Clerk.
  For First Time Voters who registered by mail and did not provide identification when registering see Voter Statement for more information.
  Active duty members or Spouses/ Dependents of a uniformed service, the Arkansas National Guard, a merchant mariner who are absent due to service you are not required to return a copy of your photo ID
  If you fail to include your Approved Photo ID (see note above for certain UOCAVA voters) or fail to provide a copy the County Clerk by noon on the Monday following the Election your absentee ballot will not count.
Step 3
Vote your Ballot
  Follow voting instructions on the Ballot
  Place your marked ballot in the inner ballot secrecy envelope provided  
  Place your sealed ballot secrecy envelope in the outer mailing envelope provided
  Certain UOCAVA voters will have different instructions for completing/ printing their ballot
Step 4
Return your Absentee Ballot
  By Mail: Ballot must be received in the County Clerk’s office no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day
   

From the United States Postal Service: 

If you opt to vote through the U.S. Mail, make sure you’re familiar with your local jurisdiction’s requirements for absentee and Vote-by-Mail ballots. Contact your local election officials about ballot submission deadlines. We recommend that domestic non-military voters mail ballots at least 1 week early to allow for timely receipt and processing by election officials.

 
  Return by Third Party ( Designated Bearer); Ensure the person whose information is recorded on the Voter Statement returns the ballot directly to the County Clerk’s office no later than close of business on the Friday before the Election.
  Hand delivered by Voter: Return ballot to the County Clerk’s office by close of business on the Friday before the Election
  By Authorized Agent: by 7:30 on Election Day
   You may not Fax or email a ballot. UOCAVA voters must vote their ballot by Election Day, and it must be received by the County Clerk no later than 10 days after the Election.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR CIVILIANS OVERSEAS

  • If you applied more than 30 days prior to the Election your ballot must be received in the office of the County Clerk no later than 10 days after the date of the Election.
  • If you applied less than 30 days prior to the Election, your ballot must be received in the office of the County Clerk no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR ACTIVE DUTY ARMED SERVICES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS

  • Your ballot must be received in the office of the County Clerk no later than 10 days after the date of the Election.

For Voters who requested an absentee ballot and are in Washington County on Election Day: If you are unable to return your absentee ballot by the deadline above you will be able to go to a polling site to cast a provisional ballot. If the absentee ballot that you requested is not returned to the County Clerk’s office by the deadline, your provisional ballot cast on Election Day will count.

For Voters who have lost, damaged, or never received your absentee ballot please call the County Clerk’s office for further instructions: 479-444-1711.