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ARKANSAS

How to vote from your hospital bed

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DEADLINES

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STEP-BY-STEP HOW TO VOTE

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Printable Materials

PRINTABLE MATERIALS

State Law

STATE LAW

Arkansas Code § 7-5-403

(a) (1) An authorized agent may deliver applications for absentee ballots to the county clerk and obtain absentee ballots from the county clerk for not more than two (2) voters per election who cannot cast a ballot at the appropriate polling place on election day because the voter is a patient in a hospital or long-term care or residential care facility licensed by the state.

(2) At no time shall an authorized agent have more than two (2) absentee ballots in his or her possession.

(3) (A) An authorized agent receiving an absentee ballot from the county clerk for a voter shall deliver the absentee ballot directly to the voter.

(B) An authorized agent receiving an absentee ballot from a voter shall deliver the absentee ballot directly to the county clerk.

(4) (A) In order for an authorized agent to obtain a ballot from the county clerk, the authorized agent shall submit to the county clerk an affidavit from the administrative head of a hospital or long-term care or residential care facility licensed by the state that the applicant is a patient of the hospital or long-term care or residential care facility licensed by the state and is thereby unable to vote on the election day at his or her regular polling site.

(B) A copy of the affidavit shall be retained by the county clerk as an attachment to the application for an absentee ballot.

(5) In order to obtain an absentee ballot from the county clerk, the:

(A) Authorized agent shall present current photographic identification to the clerk;

(B) Clerk shall print the authorized agent's name and address beside the voter's name on a register; and

(C) Authorized agent shall sign the register under oath indicating receipt of the voter's ballot.

(6) When an authorized agent delivers an absentee ballot to the county clerk, the:

(A) Authorized agent shall show some form of current photographic identification to the clerk;

(B) Clerk shall print the authorized agent's name and address beside the voter's name on a register;

(C) Authorized agent shall sign the register under oath indicating delivery of the voter's ballot; and

(D) The county clerk shall not accept an absentee ballot from an authorized agent who does not sign the register under oath.

(7) The county clerk shall write or stamp the words "AUTHORIZED AGENT" and the agent's name and address on the voter's absentee ballot return envelope.

(8) The county clerk shall post a notice of the rules concerning designated bearers and authorized agents in each county clerk's office where absentee ballots are distributed or returned.

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