Arkansas Voters Will Decide Issue 1 on November 3

The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to restrict state and local voting rights exclusively to U.S. citizens.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a geometric stone plinth and ballot container in deep red and cream, representing voting rights policy. — Arkansas voters head to the polls on November 3 to decide on Issue 1, a constitutional amendment requiring U.S. citizenship for state and local voting. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Will Arkansas voters approve the constitutional amendment requiring citizenship for voting on November 3?

Arkansas voters will head to the polls on November 3 to vote on Issue 1, a ballot measure that would explicitly restrict voting in state and local elections to U.S. citizens. The proposal seeks to add language to the state Constitution to clarify voting requirements.

Why it matters

The amendment serves as a proactive measure intended to prevent the future adoption of policies that might allow non-citizens to vote in local Arkansas elections. While state law currently mandates citizenship, this move codifies the restriction directly into the constitution.

Current Arkansas law already requires voters to be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and properly registered. Issue 1 seeks to mandate this citizenship requirement in the state Constitution for all future state and municipal elections.

The players

Arkansas General Assembly

This is the state legislative body responsible for passing laws and referring constitutional amendments to the ballot for voter approval.

The details

The Arkansas General Assembly referred the amendment to the ballot to ensure that municipal voting remains restricted to U.S. citizens. Although no cities in Arkansas currently permit non-citizens to vote, the measure is designed to preemptively block such policies from being established in the future.

Arkansas voters will cast their ballots on Issue 1 on November 3, 2026.

Political Context

Opponents of similar initiatives often argue that local jurisdictions should retain the autonomy to determine their own municipal franchise rules, citing examples where cities like Chicago or San Francisco have debated or implemented non-citizen voting. This proposed amendment reflects a broader push by state legislatures to assert uniform, statewide control over election standards.

If passed, the amendment will ensure that current citizenship requirements for state and local elections cannot be altered by municipal governments. Voters will see the measure on their ballots alongside other state and local contests on November 3.

The takeaway

The upcoming vote represents an effort to lock in existing citizenship requirements for voting at the constitutional level. Residents should review their local ballot samples to prepare for the upcoming election.