Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 7 - ELECTIONS (§§ 7-1-101 — 7-11-303) › Chapter 5 - ELECTION PROCEDURE GENERALLY (§§ 7-5-101 — 7-5-906) › Subchapter 4 - ABSENTEE VOTING (§§ 7-5-401 — 7-5-419) › Section 7-5-406 - Members of uniformed services and other citizens residing outside the United States

(a)
Any qualified elector of this state in any of the following categories who is absent from the place of his or her voting residence may make a request for an absentee ballot by submission of a federal postal card application as provided for in the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and may vote without prior registration by regular absentee ballot or by Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot in any election held in his or her election precinct if he or she is otherwise eligible to vote in that election:
(1)
Members of the uniformed services of the United States while in active duty or service, and their spouses and dependents who, by reason of the active duty or service of the member, are absent from the place of residence where the spouses or dependents are otherwise qualified to vote;
(2)
Members of the United States Merchant Marine while in active duty or service and their spouses and dependents who, by reason of the active duty or service of the member, are absent from the place of residence where the spouses or dependents are otherwise qualified to vote;
(3)
Citizens of the United States residing or temporarily outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia; and
(4)
Members of the Arkansas National Guard while in state active duty or service, and their spouses and dependents who, by reason of the state active duty or service of the member, are absent from the place of residence where the spouses or dependents are otherwise qualified to vote.
(b)
(1)
The ballot or ballots shall be transmitted according to state laws or rules and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
(2)
The Secretary of State shall establish and transmit to each county clerk and each county board of election commissioners procedures in accordance with state and federal law that:
(A)
Allow absent uniformed services voters and absent overseas voters to request, either by mail or electronically, voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications for all elections in the state;
(B)
Allow county clerks to send by mail or electronically, in accordance with the preferred method of transmission designated by the absent uniformed services voter or absent overseas voter, voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications;
(C)
Allow the absent uniformed services voter or absent overseas voter to designate whether the voter prefers that the voter registration application or absentee ballot application be transmitted by mail or electronically;
(D)
Allow the transmission by mail and, to the extent funding is available, electronically of blank absentee ballots to absent uniformed services voters and absent overseas voters for all elections in the state in a manner that expedites the transmission of absentee ballots;
(E)
Allow county clerks and county boards of election commissioners to accept and process marked absentee ballots of absent uniformed services voters and absent overseas voters;
(F)
Ensure, to the extent practicable, the protection of the security and integrity of the voter registration and absentee ballot request process and the privacy of the identity and other personal data of an absent uniformed services voter or absent overseas voter who requests or is sent a voter registration application, absentee ballot application, or absentee ballot throughout the process of making a request or being sent an application or ballot; and
(G)
Establish, to the extent funding is available, a free access system by which an absent uniformed services voter or absent overseas voter may determine whether the absentee ballot of the absent uniformed services voter or absent overseas voter has been received by the appropriate election official.
(3)
The Secretary of State shall:
(A)
Provide each county clerk and each county board of election commissioners with written copies of the procedures under subdivision (b)(2) of this section by February 1 of each even-numbered year; and
(B)
Promptly notify each county clerk and each county board of election commissioners of changes in relevant laws, rules, federal regulations, or procedures.
(4)
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this title, if selected by any grantor, this state or any county in this state may participate in a Federal Voting Assistance Program project which allows members of the uniformed services and voters overseas to register to vote and to vote in elections electronically, according to state laws and rules, and federal laws, rules, and regulations, if funds are available.
(c)
(1)
(A)
Except as provided in subdivision (c)(1)(B) of this section, for the qualified electors in the categories named in subsection (a) of this section who are temporarily outside the territorial limits of the United States, the county board of election commissioners shall prepare a special absentee ballot for each preferential primary and general election to be sent to the voter in addition to the regular absentee ballot.
(B)
The county board of election commissioners shall not prepare a special absentee ballot for a nonpartisan judicial election.
(2)
(A)
The special absentee ballot shall contain a list of all offices contested by three (3) or more candidates and the candidates qualifying for the election in each office.
(B)
The special absentee ballot shall permit the elector to vote in the general primary election or in a general runoff election by indicating his or her order of preference for each candidate for each office.
(C)
(i)
To indicate his or her order of preference for each candidate for each office, the voter shall put the number one (1) next to the name of the candidate who is the voter's first choice, the number two (2) for the voter's second choice, and so forth, so that, in consecutive numerical order, a number indicating the voter's preference is written by the voter next to the candidate's name on the ballot.
(ii)
However, the voter shall not be required to indicate his or her preference for more than one (1) candidate on the ballot if he or she chooses.
(3)
The special absentee ballot shall be marked as a "special runoff ballot".
(4)
Instructions shall be sent with the special absentee ballot to the voter explaining the special runoff voting process.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 419, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 418, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 417, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 462,§ 8, eff. 7/24/2019.
Acts 1969, No. 465, Art. 9, §§ 5, 7, 8; 1971, No. 184, § 2; 1971, No. 261, §§ 25, 26; 1977, No. 739, § 1; 1983, No. 430, §§ 2, 4; 1985, No. 1019, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 3-905, 3-907, 3-908; Acts 1997, No. 1092, § 3; 2001, No. 1180, § 1; 2003, No. 107, § 1; 2003, No. 749, § 1; 2003, No. 994, § 9; 2005, No. 751, § 1; 2007, No. 233, § 1; 2007, No. 261, § 1; 2007, No. 556, §§ 5, 6; 2009, No. 250, §§ 7, 8; 2009, No. 659, § 6; 2009, No. 703, § 1; 2011, No. 1188, § 3.