Arkansas Code Annotated

Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-324 (2026)

Voter verification card

✓ current as of May 2026

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1. 1. The Secretary of State shall provide by rule for the issuance of a voter verification card that may be requested by an individual to be used to verify his or her voter registration under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51, § 13, when appearing to vote in person or by absentee ballot.
  2. The rules shall include without limitation:
    1. A requirement that the voter verification card include a photograph of the voter;
    2. Specification of the information to be included on the voter verification card;
    3. Provisions concerning the expiration of a voter verification card; and
    4. Provisions for the voter verification card to be provided by the county clerk of the county in which the voter is registered to vote.
2. Providing for the issuance of a voter verification card under subdivision (a)(1)(A) of this section may include without limitation the purchase by the Secretary of State of cameras and other equipment necessary to generate a voter verification card in the office of the county clerk.
A voter verification card shall be issued without the payment of a fee or charge to an individual who:
1. Does not have another valid form of identification meeting the requirements of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51, § 13; and
2. 1. Is registered to vote; or
  2. Will be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the next election and has timely submitted a voter registration application.
1. The Secretary of State or the county clerk shall not require or accept payment for a voter verification card issued for the sole purpose of voter verification.
2. A person requesting a voter verification card for the sole purpose of voter verification shall sign an affidavit that he or she does not possess a valid form of identification meeting the requirements of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 51, § 13.

History. Acts 2017, No. 633, § 9.

Subchapter 4 — Absentee Voting

Effective Dates. Acts 1969, No. 465, Art. 13, § 10: approved Apr. 17, 1969. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and declared by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the present election laws are ancient and outdated in part and have caused and are causing much confusion and controversy, that there are particular problem areas in the present law which need immediate legislation in order to resolve same, that elections are and will continue to be held and conducted in this atmosphere of confusion and controversy until these problem areas are resolved and this Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act shall be in force and effect from and after its passage.”

Acts 1970 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 6, § 3: Approved Mar. 13, 1970. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and declared by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the present election laws do not allow the use of voting machines for absentee balloting; that some counties of this state are not equipped for voting other than with voting machines; that prevention of such voting causes a great confusion; that an election may be held before ninety (90) days after the adjournment of this session and this act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this act shall be in force and effect from and after its passage.”

Acts 1970 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 28, § 4: approved Mar. 13, 1970. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and declared by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the election laws provide a different closing time for casting absentee ballots than that for casting ballots at the polls on election day; that elections are, and will continue to be, held while this erroneous difference in time exists making the procedure for casting absentee ballots confusing and discriminating, and this act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this act shall be in force and effect from and after its passage.”

Acts 1977, No. 739, § 3: Mar. 24, 1977. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and determined by the General Assembly that the provisions of this act are essential for administering the election laws of Arkansas. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.”

Acts 2001, No. 1789, § 12: Emergency clause failed. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly that Amendment 80 to the Arkansas Constitution becomes effective on July 1, 2001; that this implements the nonpartisan election of justices and judges as mandated by Amendment 80; and that to effectively implement Amendment 80, this act should become effective on July 1, 2001. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist and this act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety shall become effective on July 1, 2001.”

Acts 2005, No. 2233, § 48: Jan. 1, 2006.

Acts 2011, No. 1185, § 21: Oct. 2, 2011.

Acts 2013, No. 595, § 7, provided: “This act shall become effective upon the later of the following:

“(1) January 1, 2014; or

“(2) The appropriation and availability of funding to the Secretary of State for the issuance of voter identification cards under Section 5 of this act.”

Identical Acts 2016 (3rd Ex. Sess.), Nos. 14 and 15, § 8: May 23, 2016. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that school districts that have chosen to hold their annual school election in November of this year are currently required to print separate ballots from the general election ballots at an extraordinary and unnecessary expense to taxpayers; that some voters in the annual school election this November will have to vote at a separate location for the general election and for the annual school election even though the elections are held on the same day which may decrease voter turnout and infringe upon the suffrage rights of those voters; and that this act is immediately necessary to ensure the voting rights of all citizens of Arkansas and to eliminate unnecessary election costs. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on: (1) The date of its approval by the Governor; (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the bill; or (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.”

Acts 2017, No. 910, § 8: Jan. 1, 2018.

Research References

Am. Jur. 26 Am. Jur. 2d, Elections, § 333 et seq.

C.J.S. 29 C.J.S., Elections, § 345 et seq.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 1 case, 2018–2018 · leading case: Martin v. Haas, 556 S.W.3d 509 (Ark. 2018).

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Martin v. Haas, 556 S.W.3d 509 (Ark. 2018). · cites it 2× “military identification document, a public assistance identification card (with photo), and a voter verification card under section 7-5-324 (to be issued without payment of fee or charge to persons who do not possess another compliant form of identification under Amendment 51, §…”

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