Arkansas Resources for Voters with Disabilities

U.S. Vote Foundation's Arkansas Voters with Disabilities Guide provides valuable resources including information on accessible voting options, voter rights, and guidance on the voting process. This essential Arkansas guide empowers individuals to exercise their right to vote in a private, independent, and accessible way.

What are my rights as a voter with a disability in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, you have the right to the following items as protected by federal law and election staff must be trained on and respect these rights:

  • Accessible voter registration
  • Accessible polling places
  • Policies and procedures that do not discriminate against you based on your disability
  • Accessible, available, and operational voting systems
  • Accompaniment by your service animal inside your polling place
  • Assistance from a person of your  choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent or someone who has authority over you at work)

In Arkansas,

  • Your right to vote in Arkansas may be affected by a guardianship agreement.
    • The statutory provision for guardianship requires the loss of voting privileges unless the guardianship ruling specifically includes those rights. If you need assistance, you may contact: Disability Rights Arkansas at 1-800-482-1174.

 

Federal law requires assistance in registering to vote from offices that provide public assistance or state-funded programs serving people with disabilities. Responsibilities of these offices include:

  • Providing voter registration forms
  • Assisting voters in completing the forms
  • Transmitting completed forms to the appropriate election official

All aspects of voter registration must be accessible 

What are the rules of assistance for disabled voters in Arkansas?
  • You may request assistance from a poll worker or receive assistance from a person of your choice with the following exceptions:  
    • your employer or an agent of your employer
    • an officer or agent of your union
       
  • A poll worker cannot force you to accept assistance.
     
How is the Arkansas mail-in or absentee ballot process made accessible for voters with print disabilities?

Contact your county clerk for information on absentee ballots for voters with print disabilities.

What accommodations are available for voters with disabilities at polling locations in Arkansas?

https://www.usvotefoundation.org/election-officesFederal law requires polling places to meet minimum compliance standards for individuals with special needs.

  • The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 (VAEHA) requires accessible polling places in federal elections for elderly individuals and people with disabilities. Where no accessible location is available to serve as a polling place, voters must be provided an alternate means of voting in person on Election Day.
     
  • The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) requires at least one accessible voting system for persons with disabilities at each polling place in federal elections.  The accessible voting system must provide the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, that other voters receive. 

If you want to check that your polling location meets these standards or find an alternative polling location, contact your local election official.

If you are unable to stand in line, you can:

  • Request to be moved to the front of the line or refuse to be moved to the front of the line
  • Request that a chair be provided or refuse to accept a chair
  • Request to have your place in line held and notified when it is your turn
     
How can I prepare to use accessible voting equipment in Arkansas prior to Election Day?

https://www.usvotefoundation.org/election-officesArkansas provides information on the voting machines used. These include ivotronic, Central Ballot Counter, Optical Scanner, and ELECTronic Voting System.

For more information or assistance, please contact your local election official.

Who do I contact if I have problems when voting in Arkansas?

If you have a problem while exercising your right to vote, you can:

You can also fill out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form and submit it to the US Department of Justice by one of the following methods:

  • Online, through the form’s submission process - this is the fastest method
     
  • By fax at (202) 616-9881. You MUST include “ATTN: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Complaints" at the top of your fax submission for it to be processed correctly
     
  • By mailing your form to: 

                      U.S. Department of Justice
                      Office of the Inspector General
                      Investigations Division
                      ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
                      950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
                      Washington, DC 20530

Contact The National Network of ADA Centers who provide local contact information for other organizations you may wish to contact, including your Regional ADA Center or ADA Knowledge Translation Center, or Federal Agencies and Resources

Helpful Quick Links
State-specific Resources Guide for Voters With Disabilities
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