Arkansas sees significant uptick in voter registration ahead of 2024 election

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – As the 2024 presidential election inches closer, Arkansas is seeing a significant increase in voter registration.

According to data from the secretary of state’s office, there were 8,692 voter registrations turned in during the month of May followed by 9,483 in June. In July, that jumped up to 12,696. So far in August, there have been 13,722 new registered voters.

According to the secretary of state’s office, the jump in voter registrations can be attributed to multiple factors.

One factor is the fact that this is year is a a presidential election. Officials said Arkansas always has a spike in registrations as the election gets closer.

Additionally, voter registration drives are happening all over the state and registrations come in from multiple agencies and from around the state.

Thirdly, officials said people are always moving into and out of state, so registrations consequently fluctuate.

Democrats associate the voter registration uptick with the major event that happened in July: President Joe Biden dropping out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.

“I mean I was at the DNC, the enthusiasm was so real. Everyone is so excited. We are thrilled to support Harris in this campaign,” Arkansas delegate Kennedy Kasten said. “People were ready for someone new, they wanted someone they could relate to and we’ve really seen that from the Harris campaign, so I think that’s exactly why we’re seeing numbers jump up.”

Kasten said she believes there is a new enthusiasm among young voters as well, specifically in the Democratic party. She added that while she wishes the abortion measure was going be on the November ballot in Arkansas, she believes the potential of it being up for consideration by voters this election cycle, if nothing else, increased awareness about the upcoming election.

Republican Party of Arkansas Executive Director Seth Mays said he has seen firsthand the uptick in voter registrations that lean conservative. He said the party has been registering a lot of voters who have moved from one county to another or are new to Arkansas.

He said he believes the added number of voters this election cycle will not impact the outcome of the election in the Natural State and we will see the same trends we have seen for years.

‘I don’t think there’s going to be any surprise at 7:31 pm on election night when Arkansas is called for President Trump and JD Vance as vice president,” Mays said. “I think the question is just going to be by how much.”

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