Arkansas Midterm General Election Information

Tuesday, Nov. 3, marks the midterm general election. Arkansas voters will elect representatives to all four U.S. House seats, one U.S. Senate seat, statewide constitutional offices, 17 state Senate seats and all seats in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Voters will also decide on four ballot measures. Staff Senate has compiled the following information to help the campus community learn about the candidates and issues they will encounter at the polls.

Early voting begins today, Oct. 19. Washington County residents can vote early at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 21-23, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other early voting locations are listed on the Washington County Election Commission website.

Early voting locations in Benton County are available on the Benton County Voter Tools website. Madison County residents can vote early at the County Clerk's Office on Main Street. If your county is not listed above, check your local county government website for early voting locations and hours.

The U of A System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service provides neutral, research-based information about statewide ballot issues on its Voter Education website. The four ballot measures include three proposed constitutional amendments and one bond issue:

• Issue 1: Defining who is eligible to vote in Arkansas - proposes changing the existing wording in Article 3 of the Arkansas Constitution about who can vote in Arkansas elections and adding specific language that people who don't meet the criteria, specifically noncitizens, cannot vote in local and state elections.
• Issue 2: The Right to Keep and Bear Arms Amendment - proposes changing Article 2 of the Arkansas Constitution regarding the right of citizens to keep and bear arms, and emphasizing that keeping and bearing arms are fundamental rights.
• Issue 3: Allowing the Legislature to Create Programs, Loans and Grants Using Public Money and to Create Economic Development Districts - proposes to change the Arkansas Constitution to authorize the General Assembly to create economic development programs and to pass legislation permitting cities, counties or cooperative areas to establish economic development districts. It also asks voters to approve transferring taxing authority of certain properties.
• Issue 4: Issuing up to $500 Million in Water, Waste Disposal and Pollution Abatement Bonds - asks voters to approve the state issuing up to $500 million in general obligation bonds to pay for water, waste disposal, water pollution control, abatement and prevention, drainage, irrigation, flood control, and wetlands and aquatic resources projects.

To view a sample ballot based on your home address, visit Vote.org's Ballot Information page or Vote411.org's Arkansas voting information page.

To identify your legislative districts, visit the Arkansas State Board of Apportionment maps page.

If you plan to vote on Election Day during normal working hours, please notify your immediate supervisor before Nov. 3.