Election Day is approaching and this is the first year many Arkansas State University students will be eligible to vote. For new voters, the process can be intimidating. Here is some useful information regarding important dates, eligibility requirements, how to register to vote, where to vote, and more.

Important Dates

The deadline to register is Monday, October 7.

Election day is from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5.

Voting dates and locations are listed below:

Eligibility Requirements

To vote, citizens must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Arkansas and not presently judged as mentally incompetent. Voters must also not be convicted felons whose sentences have not been discharged or pardoned. 

Voters must submit their application to an official voter registration agency or mail it no later than 30 days before an election. The postmark on a mail-in application will be considered the submission date.

Arkansas law requires residents to vote in the county where they reside. For students who moved to Jonesboro and want to vote, their registration must be updated to reflect their current residence in Craighead County.

Registration must be updated to the county clerk no later than four days before an election.

Students can check if they are eligible to vote on the National Association of Secretaries of State website at nass.org/can-I-vote. Voter registration status, polling locations, sample ballots and information for absentee and early voting can also be found on this website.

How to Register to Vote

Registration applications can be found at the county clerk’s office, DMV office, library, disability agency and military recruitment offices. Online applications may also be requested at the Arkansas Secretary of State Website.

The Craighead county clerk office is located in Jonesboro at 511 S. Main St in Room 202. 

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

County Clerk Mary Dawn Marshall can be called at 870-933-4520 and emailed at mdmarshall@craigheadcountyar.gov.

Additional Information

Students with accessibility needs can apply for absentee voting by contacting the county clerk. The absentee voting application deadline is seven days before the election if sent electronically or the close of business day before the election.

To qualify for absentee voting, students must be unavoidably absent from their polling site on election day or will be unable to attend a polling site due to illness or physical disability.

When voting, an election official will request an I.D. Voters enter the voting booth alone and will have 5 minutes to cast their ballot.

Further information on voting and registration can be found at the Arkansas Secretary of State website, sos.arkansas.gov and the Craighead County Government website, craigheadcountyar.gov.

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