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Category: 2018 Elections
How to Register to Vote
Wikihow has all the info on how to register to vote in Arkansas!
“Registering to vote in Arkansas is simple. However, you do need to meet certain requirements. For instance, you must be a U.S. citizen, an Arkansas resident for at least 30 days, and 18 years old on or before the election. Additionally, you must be discharged or pardoned from all convicted felonies. You can register in Arkansas by mailing in your application. You can also fill out an application in person by visiting an approved institution like your county clerk’s office or your local public library.”
Election Resource
Election Day is coming fast. Here’s a resource that our friends at DRA recommend.
2018 Election Info
It’s election season! In fact, early voting for primaries has begun. That means it’s time for you to do some homework and make decisions about which issues are most important to you. Sometimes your values on different issues may clash, which is why it’s important to rank one of them as most important to you.
Medicaid is a hot topic. We’ve seen a lot of change, and depending on the officials we elect, we may see even more. That’s why it’s important to be informed about election deadlines, requirements, and the candidates.
Your first question might be:
Who’s running?
Next you’re probably asking:
What are the deadlines?
Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives will take place soon!
- candidate filing deadline – March 1, 2018.
- primary election – May 22, 2018.
- primary runoff election – June 19, 2018.
- general election – November 6, 2018.
All 100 House seats are up for election in 2018. Arkansas state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years.
Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate are also happening soon.
- candidate filing deadline – March 1, 2018,
- primary election – May 22, 2018.
- primary runoff election – June 19, 2018.
- general election – November 6, 2018.
A total of 18 seats out of the chamber’s 35 seats are up for election in 2018.Arkansas state senators serve one two-year term and two four-year terms each decade.
Arkansas will also hold elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2018.
The 2018 U.S. House of Representatives will hold elections
- candidate filing deadline – March 1, 2018,
- primary election – May 22, 2018.
- general election – November 6, 2018.
Arkansans elect representatives to the U.S. House, one from each of the state’s four congressional districts.
How can I be informed about the candidates?
As candidates are campaigning, make sure you take every opportunity to inform yourself. Know what questions to ask!
Have I met the requirements to vote?
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Arkansas you should provide one of the following:
- The Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
- Your Arkansas Driver’s License Number
If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:
- Current and Valid Photo ID
- Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
- Utility Bill
- Government Check
- Bank Statement
- Paycheck that Shows your current name and address
You can alternatively provide one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.
Voting In-Person
In Arkansas, you need to show a valid ID to vote. You can use any ID from this list:
- Paycheck that shows your Current Name and Address
- Current and Valid Photo ID
- Utility Bill
- Bank Statement
- Government Check
- Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
- Veteran Health ID Issued by US Department of Veterans Affairs
Where should I vote?
What to Ask Candidates About Medicaid
Updated: 6/22/18
This year as political candidates are running for election or re-election, they will be asking for your vote. Since our elected officials determine the fate of Medicaid funds, it’s important that we all place informed votes when the time comes. If/when these people ask for your vote, be prepared to ask them some questions in return!
Cuts to Medicaid:
Currently, it seems that Medicaid is taking big hits to funding in all areas.
- Are you familiar with the many changes that Medicaid recipients are experiencing?
- Do you believe that Medicaid needs further cuts?
- How would you improve Medicaid spending without cutting it?
- What is your position on adding more restrictions — such as work requirements or enrollment freezes — to programs like Medicaid?
- How will you ensure that physicians and providers are receiving adequate training about the many Medicaid changes?
Access to Health Care:
In addition to coverage, it is important that families can get the high-quality health care treatment they need. Currently, people struggle to find a doctor who will accept Medicaid to treat them, or they don’t have transportation to the next available provider. By putting the right policies in place, we can improve access to care for all Arkansans.
- How will you ensure that all children and families in Arkansas have access to high-quality health care?
- At times, people who work full time can’t access quality healthcare, and they are forced to depend on Medicaid. How will you ensure that more jobs provide quality healthcare coverage, so that people may not need Medicaid?
- How can you get more providers all over the state to accept Medicaid patients?
Coverage for All Children:
Today, 96 percent of children in Arkansas have health coverage because of ARKids, funded by Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It ensures over half of children in the state have a reliable source of coverage that their families can afford.
- How will you protect health coverage for children?
Special Needs & Disability:
Arkansas has a good reputation for providing for special needs populations. However, recent actions seem to move toward what surrounding states are doing, which is not acceptable.
- How would you protect the funding for special needs and disabled people?
- Currently thousands of people are waiting for needed services. What ways do you see to move people off of the DDS Waiver Waiting List faster to get the services they need?
- Would you move this population to managed care if the current PASSE system doesn’t work?
Behavioral Health Needs:
The Behavioral Health options in this state are lacking, especially when it comes to timely treatment state-wide for someone with those needs.
- How would you improve Behavioral Health treatment options for those on Medicaid across the state?
- Would you move this population to managed care if the current PASSE system doesn’t work?
Arkansas Works:
Up to 300,000 adults have access to affordable health coverage because of the state’s Medicaid expansion program, Arkansas Works. This program uses Medicaid funds to enroll eligible adults in a private insurance plan at little or no cost to them. It has also helped hospitals and doctors who were treating patients that were unable to pay for care.
- What is your position on providing affordable coverage to adults who are low-income earners?
- Now that a work requirement is being enforced, what job-training and educational resources do you think the state should provide?
Please press these issues and make sure that the people you vote for will work for you! Submit more questions!
Pulaski County Nonpartisan Candidate Forum
This resource is from Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families
Join Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods, League of Women Voters of Pulaski County, Arkansas Community Organizations, Citizens First Congress, and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families for a nonpartisan candidate forum on April 28th to find out where candidates stand on the issues most important to you. Audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions for the candidates at the event.
When: 1-5 p.m., Saturday, April 28
Where: M.L. Harris Auditorium at Philander Smith College,
900 Daisy Bates Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
Confirmed races:
-State Senate District 30
Senator Linda Chesterfield
Andre Pendleton
-State House District 33
Tippi McCullough
Ross Noland
-State House District 36
Representative Charles Blake
Darrell Stevens
Don’t know your district? Find out here. Just click the search button and type in your address.
Stay connected for updates, including additional races that may be included.
Medicaid Saves Lives 