Absentee Ballot request forms available at the County Clerk’s Office, online

DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic during an election year has caused a lot of people to consider mail-in ballots as a safe option to voting in person. Governor Asa Hutchinson has stated that those who have concerns regarding COVID-19 are eligible for absentee voting in Arkansas.
Anyone considering casting an absentee ballot must first submit an absentee ballot application which can be obtained at the county clerk’s office or online at the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website.
Montgomery County residents can contact the county clerk’s office at (870) 867-3521, or they can visit the clerk’s office in the courthouse located in Mount Ida at 105 Highway 270E #10. County Clerk Penny Black can also be reached by email at montgomeryclerk@arkansasclerks.com
You can access the absentee ballot request application online at https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/Absentee_Ballot_Application_1.pdf
Requests for an absentee ballot can be made in person up to the close of business day the day before the election. This year the deadline for an in person request would by Monday, November 2, The courthouse is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You can also request an application by designated bearer or administrator. This is anyone you choose to pick up or deliver your application or ballot. The designated person must make the request by the close of business day Monday, November 2, as well.
Deadline to request an application by mail or by electronic means is seven (7) days before the election, or Tuesday, October 27.
You may also apply by authorized agent by 1:30 p.m. election day, or Tuesday, November 3. 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.
There is no deadline specified for pick up of the ballots if you are doing so in person. Designated bearers may pick up ballots no earlier than 15 days before the election.
An absentee ballot delivered in person must be submitted by close of business day the day before the election, or Monday, November 2.
If delivered by a designated bearer they can be delivered by 7:30 p.m. election day, Tuesday, November 3.
Absentee ballots mailed to the county clerk’s office must be received at the clerk’s office by 7:30 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, November 3. Ballots cannot be faxed or emailed to the clerk’s office. Service personnel stationed overseas must vote their ballot by election day and must be received by the county clerk by 5 p.m. 10 days after the election.
Absentee ballots delivered by an authorized agent must be delivered by 7:30 p.m. election day, Tuesday, November 3.
While COVID-19 has raised awareness regarding the use of absentee ballots, there are multiple reasons why someone might cast an absentee ballot.
To be qualified to vote an absentee ballot, you must meet one of the following criteria:
You will be unavoidably absent from your polling site on election day, or
You will be unable to attend your polling site on election day due to illness or physical disability, or
You are a member of the Uniformed Services, merchant marines or the spouse or a dependant family member and are away from your polling location due to the member’s active duty status, or
A U.S. citizen whose residence is in Arkansas but is temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States.
If you have further questions regarding absentee ballots, or you would like to request one please contact the Montgomery County Clerk’s Office at (870) 867-3521.

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