Voting While Trans in Arkansas
Is ID required to vote?
YES. Arkansas poll workers will be required to request that voters present a photo ID card. This ID must show your legal name and photo, and must be issued by either the state or federal government.
It’s helpful to bring your voter registration card and a utility bill showing the address where you are registered.
A free voter verification card is available through the Secretary of State’s office or your county clerk for any voter who does not have another ID valid for voting.
What do I do if the poll worker doesn’t think I look like the person on my ID?
Show them the utility bill and the "Information for Poll Workers and Election Officials" section from National Center for Transgender Equity found here
What if I’m still not allowed to vote? Pt 1
Check to see if there is an election protection monitor at your polling place whom you can ask for assistance.
If no one is around:
Call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR VOTE
Asian languages: 1-888-274-8683
Arabic: 1-844-418-1682
ASL (video call): 1-301-818-8683
Spanish: 1-888-839-8682
What if I’m still not allowed to vote? Pt 2
You can also request a provisional ballot. You must complete the affidavit on the ballot envelope, vote your ballot, place it in the ballot envelope and seal before returning it to the election official.
If you are forced to use a provisional ballot, ask for follow-up instructions, as you generally must return to election officials within a few days to prove your identity in order for your ballot to be counted.
If you were convicted of a misdemeanor, you can vote. If you are in jail, you will have to vote by absentee ballot. You do retain the right to vote if convicted of a misdemeanor.
If you were convicted of a felony in Arkansas you can vote if you’re not currently incarcerated or on probation or parole and you have paid all fines.
Your right to vote can be restored after completion of your sentence, parole, and/or probation and the payment of all probation or parole fees, court costs, fines, or restitution.
To restore your right to vote, you must take proof of completion of your sentence, including proof that you have paid all fees, fines & costs required of you to your local county clerk.
Once your local county clerk has received this proof, you are eligible to register to vote.
If you do not have proof of your discharge, and you were released without parole, you should contact: ADC at: Centralized Records-Discharge Files 1-870-267-6684 at 2403 E. Harding, Pine Bluff, AR 71603.
If you were released through probation or parole, you should contact the records units for the individual probation or parole office for proof of supervision release and all payments.
Proof of restitution payments can be obtained by the entity collecting restitution payments, if any. The circuit clerk can provide you proof of discharge of any fines and costs.
It is best to collect these records at the time your sentence is completed or as soon as possible thereafter and retain copies of these records as they may be increasingly difficult to obtain as time goes by.