It is almost time to make your voice heard in the upcoming General Election. Early voting starts next week on Oct. 21, 2024.

Election Day is November 5. This is your chance to vote for local, state, and federal offices, as well as participate in annual school board elections for districts that vote in the fall. Additionally, there will be local ballot issues and a runoff election for the Arkansas Supreme Court.

In 2023, the General Assembly passed Act 300, which requires that special issues, such as sales tax proposals and bond issues, be included on the same ballot as candidate elections. This means that your vote could have an even greater impact on the future of your community.

When you go to the polls, an election official will ask you to state your name, address, and date of birth. The election official will also request that you provide an approved form of I.D.

If you cannot vote in person on Election Day, you can apply for an absentee ballot by the appropriate deadline. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail or electronic means is October 29. If applying in person, the deadline is November 1. If you have questions about absentee voting, contact your county clerk.

To help you prepare for the upcoming election, you can view an example of your ballot beforehand. Sample ballots are on the Secretary of State's Voter View website at
www.voterview.ar-nova.org/VoterView (http://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/VoterView).

If you don't see your sample ballot listed, reach out to your county clerk's office for more information.

Your vote matters! Make plans now to cast your ballot.