Arkansas Provisional Voting

Provisional ballots are counted between 2-15 days after the election.

If your name is not on the precinct voter registration list, or you do not show a valid photo ID, the election official shall permit you to vote only under the following conditions:

• You identify yourself by stating your name, date of birth and that you are verified by the county clerk as a registered voter within the county
• You affirm your current residence and the election official verifies with the county clerk that your residence is within the precinct
• You complete an updated voter registration application form
• You sign the precinct voter registration list

If you are not listed on the precinct voter registration list and the election official is unable to verify your registration with the county clerk and you contend that you are eligible to vote, then you may vote a challenged ballot which shall only be counted upon verification of your registration status by the county board of election commissioners prior to certification of the election.

If your ballot is challenged, the election officials in the election precinct will make and retain a list of the names of all persons who are challenged and the procedure shall be as follows:

• You will separate your marked ballot and ballot stub
• You will place the challenged ballot in a single challenged ballot envelope and seal the envelope
• You will place the ballot stub and the sealed challenged ballot envelope and the challenge form in a challenged voter envelope
• The ballots of all challenged persons shall be preserved, secured, and separated from the remaining ballots to the end that the right of any person to vote may be determined later by the county board of election commissioners
• The county board shall, prior to certification of the results of the election, determine whether the challenged ballots are valid

The election official will provide the voter with written instructions on how to determine whether the provisional vote was counted and,if not, the reason the vote was not counted. (Inmost cases, the election commission will mail a notice to the voter.)

If you have to cast a Provisional Ballot because your registration status could not be confirmed:

• If your name is not included on the precinct voter registration list and if the election official at the poll cannot verify the voter's status as a registered voter in the county, that voter is entitled to cast a Provisional Ballot if he or she contends to be a registered voter in the precinct in which he or she desires to vote.
• The election official will ask you to provide a current, valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. If you fail to provide this ID, the election official will note it on the precinct voter list.
• The election official will write your name and address on the list of provisional voters.
• The election official will provide a Voter Affirmation form on which you affirm that you are a registered voter in the precinct and are eligible to vote in the election.
• When the affirmation is completed, the election official will provide the proper ballot to you.
• You may then mark the ballot.
• Then you should place the marked ballot into the Provisional Ballot envelope and seal it.
• Then you should then place the Voter Affirmation (if the affirmation is a separate piece of paper and not printed on the envelope) in the Provisional Voter envelope.
• The election official shall provide you with written instructions on how to determine whether or not the provisional vote was counted, and, if not, the reason the vote was not counted. (In most cases, the election commission will mail a notice to the voter.)