Polls close in Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. on election day, but it can take time to know who won.Jennifer Price, director of elections for Washington County, told us her staff starts counting ballots on election night as soon as the polls close.They count ballots that were cast early as well as absentee ballots.Election workers count votes that were cast on Election Day as they come in from vote centers across the county.The election commission is able to report preliminary results to the public and news media that night.Overseas BallotsHowever, not all ballots are counted that day.Absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk on Election Day to count, Price said. Overseas ballots, however, don’t have to be in until 10 days after Election Day.Because of this rule, the county doesn’t certify the official election results until 10 days after the election. For the 2022 midterms, this is Nov. 18.Provisional BallotsProvisional ballots also aren’t counted on Election Day.A person casts a provisional ballot if there is a question about their eligibility, if they requested an absentee ballot but didn’t return it and go to vote in person anyway, or are unable to show a valid ID at the polling place.The poll worker sets these provisional ballots to the side. The election commission reviews their status at a meeting at noon on the Monday following the election.If a person cast a provisional ballot because they didn’t have a proper ID, they have until noon Monday to physically come to the county clerk’s office and present a valid ID.Price said some people might try to use a driver’s license that was issued in another state as their ID when voting. The ID must be issued by an Arkansas state entity, a postsecondary institution in Arkansas, or a federal agency.Arkansas driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, military IDs, and student IDs from the University of Arkansas, NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are some of the most common valid IDs presented, Price said.Presumptive WinnersPrice said the election commission knows the number of outstanding overseas ballots and provisional ballots cast by the end of the day.They are able to report that number and let the public know if it is large enough to affect the outcome of any close races.
Polls close in Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. on election day, but it can take time to know who won.
Jennifer Price, director of elections for Washington County, told us her staff starts counting ballots on election night as soon as the polls close.
They count ballots that were cast early as well as absentee ballots.
Election workers count votes that were cast on Election Day as they come in from vote centers across the county.
The election commission is able to report preliminary results to the public and news media that night.
Overseas Ballots
However, not all ballots are counted that day.
Absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk on Election Day to count, Price said. Overseas ballots, however, don’t have to be in until 10 days after Election Day.
Because of this rule, the county doesn’t certify the official election results until 10 days after the election. For the 2022 midterms, this is Nov. 18.
Provisional Ballots
Provisional ballots also aren’t counted on Election Day.
A person casts a provisional ballot if there is a question about their eligibility, if they requested an absentee ballot but didn’t return it and go to vote in person anyway, or are unable to show a valid ID at the polling place.
The poll worker sets these provisional ballots to the side. The election commission reviews their status at a meeting at noon on the Monday following the election.
If a person cast a provisional ballot because they didn’t have a proper ID, they have until noon Monday to physically come to the county clerk’s office and present a valid ID.
Price said some people might try to use a driver’s license that was issued in another state as their ID when voting.
The ID must be issued by an Arkansas state entity, a postsecondary institution in Arkansas, or a federal agency.
Arkansas driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, military IDs, and student IDs from the University of Arkansas, NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are some of the most common valid IDs presented, Price said.
Presumptive Winners
Price said the election commission knows the number of outstanding overseas ballots and provisional ballots cast by the end of the day.
They are able to report that number and let the public know if it is large enough to affect the outcome of any close races.
