Today’s episode of the Arkansas Civic Minute is brought to you by Civic Arkansas, a Winthrop Rockefeller Institute program, and hosted by Little Rock Public Radio’s Politics and Government Reporter Josie Lenora.
Arkansas has one of the lowest rates of voter turnout in the country. Along with Puerto Rico and Hawaii, the state has the highest numbers of adults who do not cast a ballot in elections. In Arkansas, about 1.3 million people voted of the 2.2 million that could in the last election. This means only 49% of voting age adults show up to vote in a presidential election year. This is a decrease from 2022, when statewide about 38% of voting age adults cast a ballot. There are several theories to explain low voter turnout rates. This includes strict laws about absentee ballots and registration deadlines. Statewide, Arkansas sees very few competitive races, with most major elections being won by the Republican Party. Citizens on both sides of the aisle may feel less motivated to vote.
Support for the Arkansas Civic Minute is provided by Civic Arkansas, a Winthrop Rockefeller Institute program. As a nonprofit convenor, the Institute looks to strengthen civic health by putting people first, removing barriers to participation, and supporting community-led solutions for a more connected civic culture. More information at https://rockefellerinstitute.org/programs/civic-arkansas/.