Absentee voting has started in Arkansas, and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it's gotten more popular in Garland County. Garland County Election Commission Chairman Gene Haley said the county had 1,200 absentee votes in the 2016 election. As of Tuesday, they already had 3,500 applications for absentee ballots.
Voters must first complete an application that can be obtained from the county clerk, the secretary of state's website, or garlandcountyvote.org.
"Absentee ballots are a county clerk function, so it has to go to the county clerk's office," Haley said. "The county clerk will review that application, and if you're a registered voter, they will mail you a ballot packet."
The ballot packet includes a ballot, envelopes to return everything in, and a voter statement which Haley said is crucial for having the ballot count.
"The important part of this whole process is the voter statement," he said. "In the voter statement, there are instructions on the back, and on the front is what really matters. The voter has to put their name, address, date of birth, and sign it, or it cannot count."
Voters must include a copy of a photo ID or else the ballot becomes a provisional ballot. These are examined after the fact by the election commission to determine whether or not to count them.
"We have 10 days, typically, from election day to certify the election," he said. The deadline to register to vote in Arkansas is Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 19 and Election Day is Nov. 3.
The deadlines for absentee voting can be found at https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/absentee-voting.
Election at a glance
Voting hours are 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3
Early voting
Weekdays, Oct. 19-23, and Oct. 26-30, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, and Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballots
Absentee ballots will be opened and processed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the Garland County Court House.
Counting of absentee ballots will begin at 9 a.m. at the courthouse on Nov. 3.
Tabulation will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day at the Election Commission Building, 649-A Ouachita Ave.
Election Day locations
Election Commission Building, 649-A Ouachita Ave.
Hot Springs Convention Center, Church Street, off Malvern.
Bates Community Church, 419 McClendon Road.
LakePointe Church, 1343 Albert Pike.
Creekside Community Church, 1010 Shady Grove Road.
Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Road.
Red Oak Baptist Church, 2791 Highway 290.
Hot Springs Mall, 4501 Central Ave.
Piney Grove Methodist Church, 2963 Airport Road.
First Baptist Church, Royal, 7402 Albert Pike Road.
Community Baptist Church, 3518 Highway 7 north.
Mountain Pine City Hall, 241 Main St.
Fountain Lake School, 4207 Park Ave.
Lonsdale City Hall, 501 Cockrill St.
Unitarian Universalist Church, 403 Barcelona Road.
Roanoke Baptist Church 236, Whittington Ave.
Early voting locations
Election Commission Building, 649-A Ouachita Ave.
Hot Springs Mall, 4501 Central Ave.
Community Baptist Church, 3518 Highway 7 north.
LakePointe Church, 1343 Albert Pike.
Unitarian Universalist Church, 403 Barcelona Road.
First Baptist Church, Royal, 7402 Albert Pike Road.
Hot Springs Convention Center, Church Street, off Malvern.