Arkansas: Difference between revisions

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Welcome to the Arkansas state page! Here, Arkansas organizers can access and document ongoing projects, current leadership positions, upcoming races, and other important information. This list is non-exhaustive, and state teams are encouraged to expand and adapt these pages to their organizing needs.
Welcome to the Arkansas state page! Here, Arkansas organizers can access and document ongoing projects, current leadership positions, upcoming races, and other important information. This list is non-exhaustive, and state teams are encouraged to expand and adapt these pages to their organizing needs.


==Political Landscape of Arkansas==
===Partisan Composition of Arkansas ===
Overall, Arkansas is considered a deep red state, with a [https://www.cookpolitical.com/cook-pvi/2022-partisan-voting-index/state-map-and-list Cook PVI] of R+16 as of 2022, regularly voting 60-65% Republican in statewide races. Their governor, both US Senators and all four US House representatives are Republicans. Republicans also hold comfortable supermajorities in the state house (82-18) and state senate (29-6), giving them a veto-proof trifecta (as of 2/10/24).
===Progressive Outlook for Arkansas ===
The overall progressive strategy for Arkansas is bleak. The main focus should be on harm reduction and blunting the Republican legislature with citizen-led ballot initiatives while federal help arrives. Arkansas also has the unique problem of extremely low voter turnout - for instance, MAGA Republican John White was able to register as a Democrat in one of the US House races completely unchallenged with no experience in 2022, and Democrats didn't even submit a candidate for US Senate in 2020! There's a racial component to Arkansas too, as the state went from strongly supporting Bill Clinton to voting against Obama with a very strong swing rightward. A conservative Democrat could potentially make the governorship competitive in the future and ultimately be better on at least some issues. Increasing turnout is a key to turning Arkansas around in the future and voting rights ballot initiatives are popular with everyone. As Arkansas is an open primary state, it is strongly-recommended to participate in the Republican primaries to elect moderate Republicans who will be less harmful.
==Get Involved ==
===Register to Vote in Arkansas===
[[Arkansas/Voting]]
===Progressive Organizations in Arkansas ===
Below is a list of progressive organizations in Arkansas. If you see a state organization that isn't on this list, please add it.


* '''[https://www.arkdems.org/ Arkansas Democrats:]''' As with many red states, the Democratic party is the key means of progressive or liberal organizing in the state.


'''Registering to Vote:'''  
===Notable Campaigns in 2024===
Below is a list of progressive candidates or ballot measures in the 2024 election cycle for Arkansas. Non-progressive candidates may also be placed here if they are substantially to the left of their district's partisan lean and worth campaigning for. If you see a candidate or ballot measure that should be on this list, please add them.


You can registered to vote in the state of Arkansas if you are
'''November 5th General Election'''


* a naturalized U.S. citizen
There are currently no known swing races on November 5th. If you know of any, please add them.  
* at least 18 years old
* is an Arkansas resident
* is not a felon who has not discharged their sentences
* has not been determined to be mentally incompetent


<nowiki>*</nowiki> Anyone who is a naturalized citizen meeting these requirements may vote if they have registered at least 30 days before the election.
'''Ballot Measures'''


'''Where May I Obtain a Voter Registration Application?'''
*'''[https://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_Lottery_Proceed_Funding_for_Vocational-Technical_School_Scholarships_and_Grants_Amendment_(2024) Arkansas Lottery Proceed Funding for Vocational-Technical School Scholarships and Grants Amendment (2024)]-''' Voting yes on this amendment would allow lottery funds to be used on educational scholarships.


* Your local county clerk
===Run for Local Office ===
* The Arkansas Secretary of State Elections Division: 1-800-482-1127
An underrated way to impact change is to run for a local position! Please feel free to add information on doing so below.
* Local revenue or DMV office
* Public library
* Disability agency
* Military recruitment office
* Online Request Form
** Request an application through the mail (USPS).


The deadline to register to vote is:
[[Category:States]]
 
Mail: postmarked 30 days before the election.
 
In person: 30 days before the election.
 
Online: Arkansas does not offer online voter registration.
 
'''ID requirements'''
 
ID is required to vote in Arkansas. Valid forms of ID include:
 
- Driver’s license
 
- Photo ID card
 
- Concealed handgun carry license
 
- United States passport
 
- An employee badge or identification document issued by an accredited postsecondary educational institution in Arkansas
 
- United States Military identification document
 
- A public assistance identification card if the card shows a photograph of the person to whom the document or identification card was issued
 
- A voter identification card issued by the Secretary of State
 
If you do not have one of the documents in the list above, learn how to obtain a free Arkansas ID from Vote Riders opens a new window
 
'''Early Voting'''
 
You can vote early in Arkansas beginning 15 days before a preferential primary or general election, all other elections, including the general primary and general runoff, seven days before the election.
 
The last day to vote early varies by election type. Early voting is open from 8am-6pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturday. Early voting ends on Monday on 5pm.
 
'''Mail-In Voting'''
 
You need an excuse to vote-by-mail in the state of Arkansas. One of the excuses could be:
 
* Voters must provide an approved excuse to vote absentee in Arkansas. You can vote absentee if you:
* Will be unavoidably absent from your polling site on election day, OR
* Will be unable to attend your polling site on election day due to illness or physical disability,
* Will be prevented from voting due to observance of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire twelve (12) hours that the polls are open on election day, OR
* Are a member of the Uniformed Services, merchant marines or the spouse or a dependent family member and are away from your polling location due to the member’s active duty status, OR
* Are a U.S. citizen whose residence is in Arkansas but is temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States
 
===== '''What is the deadline to request a ballot?''' =====
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is:
 
By mail: Received by election officials 7 days before the election.
 
Online: Absentee ballots cannot be requested online in Arkansas.
 
In person: the Friday before the election.
 
Make sure to request your ballot as soon as possible- don’t wait until the deadline!
 
To return the ballot it could be by these methods:
 
* In Person: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election.
* By Designated Bearer or Administrator: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election.
** (Designated Bearer is anyone you choose to pick up and/or deliver your application or ballot).
* By Mail or by Electronic Means: by 7 days before the election.
* By Authorized Agent: by 1:30 p.m. ON election day.
** The authorized agent must file with the County Clerk an affidavit from the administrative head of a hospital or nursing home located in this state verifying that the applicant is a patient of the hospital or long-term care or residential care facility licensed by the state and is thereby unable to vote on the election day at his or her regular polling site.
 
==== Deadline for Delivery of Voted Ballot to County Clerk: ====
 
* In Person: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election.
* By Designated Bearer: by close of business the Friday BEFORE the election.
* By Mail: received at clerks office by 7:30 p.m. ON election day
* By Authorized Agent: by 7:30 p.m. ON election day
 
There are no drop off boxes for mail in ballots for Arkansas<ref>www.vote411.org/arkansas</ref><ref>www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/voter-registration-information/voting-in-arkansas</ref>

Latest revision as of 23:05, 28 August 2024

Welcome to the Arkansas state page! Here, Arkansas organizers can access and document ongoing projects, current leadership positions, upcoming races, and other important information. This list is non-exhaustive, and state teams are encouraged to expand and adapt these pages to their organizing needs.

Political Landscape of Arkansas

Partisan Composition of Arkansas

Overall, Arkansas is considered a deep red state, with a Cook PVI of R+16 as of 2022, regularly voting 60-65% Republican in statewide races. Their governor, both US Senators and all four US House representatives are Republicans. Republicans also hold comfortable supermajorities in the state house (82-18) and state senate (29-6), giving them a veto-proof trifecta (as of 2/10/24).

Progressive Outlook for Arkansas

The overall progressive strategy for Arkansas is bleak. The main focus should be on harm reduction and blunting the Republican legislature with citizen-led ballot initiatives while federal help arrives. Arkansas also has the unique problem of extremely low voter turnout - for instance, MAGA Republican John White was able to register as a Democrat in one of the US House races completely unchallenged with no experience in 2022, and Democrats didn't even submit a candidate for US Senate in 2020! There's a racial component to Arkansas too, as the state went from strongly supporting Bill Clinton to voting against Obama with a very strong swing rightward. A conservative Democrat could potentially make the governorship competitive in the future and ultimately be better on at least some issues. Increasing turnout is a key to turning Arkansas around in the future and voting rights ballot initiatives are popular with everyone. As Arkansas is an open primary state, it is strongly-recommended to participate in the Republican primaries to elect moderate Republicans who will be less harmful.

Get Involved

Register to Vote in Arkansas

Arkansas/Voting

Progressive Organizations in Arkansas

Below is a list of progressive organizations in Arkansas. If you see a state organization that isn't on this list, please add it.

  • Arkansas Democrats: As with many red states, the Democratic party is the key means of progressive or liberal organizing in the state.

Notable Campaigns in 2024

Below is a list of progressive candidates or ballot measures in the 2024 election cycle for Arkansas. Non-progressive candidates may also be placed here if they are substantially to the left of their district's partisan lean and worth campaigning for. If you see a candidate or ballot measure that should be on this list, please add them.

November 5th General Election

There are currently no known swing races on November 5th. If you know of any, please add them.

Ballot Measures

Run for Local Office

An underrated way to impact change is to run for a local position! Please feel free to add information on doing so below.