Arkansas Public Policy Center Continues Commitment to Voter Education

Monday, Oct. 5, is the deadline to register to vote in Arkansas. Registration is generally a brief process, but it can take much longer for Arkansans convicted of a felony. One man who has restored his voting rights says some felons may not register to vote because they don't know they're eligible or collecting the necessary paperwork proves too burdensome.

Both the Washington and Benton County Clerks' offices will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday in October to collect absentee ballots from voters who requested them. The ballots can also be mailed. The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election is Monday, Oct. 5.

As voters contemplate their ballots, Jay Greene, a distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, is contemplating the evolution of conservatism. That's the focus of his Honors College symposium, which will be held next spring. Greene will host a preview lecture about the subject Tuesday, Sept. 15, via Zoom.

According to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office, about 42,000 Arkansans cast absentee ballots in the 2018 election. Officials say that number could double or triple due as more people vote absentee because of the pandemic. Voters are being urged to vote early to ensure their ballots arrive on time and planning ahead is just one complexity facing Arkansans casting their ballots from overseas.

The Washington and Benton County Election Commissions have teamed up with a local group called Vote Safe Arkansas to make sure voting in the General Election is as safe as possible for as many people as possible. In addition to safety protocols like social distancing and plexiglass shields, they're recruiting more poll workers, raising money for PPE and launching a social media campaign.