Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Arkansas

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Arkansas, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

  1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
  2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
  3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Arkansas. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Arkansas." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

DocumentIcon.jpg See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

For information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Arkansas in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Arkansas U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 11/14/2023 Source
Arkansas U.S. House Unaffiliated 3% of qualified voters in the district, or 2,000, whichever is less N/A 11/14/2023 Source


For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Arkansas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Arkansas U.S. Senate Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 3/1/2022 Source
Arkansas U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 3% of total votes cast for governor in 2018 or 10,000, whichever is less N/A 5/1/2022 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Arkansas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Arkansas U.S. House Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 3/1/2022 Source
Arkansas U.S. House Unaffiliated 3% of qualified voters in the district, or 2,000, whichever is less N/A 5/2/2022 Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Arkansas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source Notes
Arkansas Governor Ballot-qualified party N/A Fixed by party 3/1/2022 Source
Arkansas Governor Unaffiliated 3% of total votes cast for governor in 2018 or 10,000, whichever is less N/A 5/1/2022 Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Arkansas in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Arkansas U.S. Senate Democratic N/A N/A $12,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas U.S. Senate Republican N/A N/A $20,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 10,000 3% of total votes cast for governor in the last election, not to exceed 10,000 N/A N/A 5/1/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Arkansas in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Arkansas 1st Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $10,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 1st Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $15,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 3% of votes cast for governor in the last election in the district, not to exceed 2,000 N/A N/A 5/1/2020 Source
Arkansas 2nd Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $10,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 2nd Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $15,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 3% of votes cast for governor in the last election in the district, not to exceed 2,000 N/A N/A 5/1/2020 Source
Arkansas 3rd Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $10,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 3rd Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $15,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 3rd Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 3% of votes cast for governor in the last election in the district, not to exceed 2,000 N/A N/A 5/1/2020 Source
Arkansas 4th Congressional District Democratic N/A N/A $10,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 4th Congressional District Republican N/A N/A $15,000.00 Fixed number 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas 4th Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 3% of votes cast for governor in the last election in the district, not to exceed 2,000 N/A N/A 5/1/2020 Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Arkansas House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Arkansas House of Representatives Qualified party N/A Varies by party and district 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas House of Representatives Unaffiliated 3% of qualified voters residing in the district N/A 5/1/2020 Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Arkansas State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Arkansas State Senate Qualified party N/A Varies by party and district 11/12/2019 Source
Arkansas State Senate Unaffiliated 3% of qualified voters residing in the district N/A 5/1/2020 Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Arkansas elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

March 1, 2018

2016

See also: Arkansas elections, 2016

On May 29, 2015, Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law SB 8, which moved the 2016 primary election in Arkansas from May to March. As a result, several party and candidate filing deadlines were also impacted. The filing deadline for major political party candidates was moved from March 2016 to November 2015. The petition filing deadline for non-presidential independent candidates was moved to November 2015. The petition filing deadline for newly-qualifying political parties was moved to September 2015.[1][2][3]

The calendar below lists key dates for political candidates in Arkansas in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
September 3, 2015 Ballot access Deadline for new political parties to file qualifying paperwork
October 15, 2015 Campaign finance Quarterly report due for third quarter of 2015
November 2, 2015 Ballot access Filing period for party candidates opens at 12:00 p.m.; filing period for nonpartisan candidates opens at 3:00 p.m.; filing period opens for independent and write-in candidates
November 16, 2015 Campaign finance Statement of financial interest for 2014 due for non-incumbent candidates
November 16, 2015 Campaign finance October monthly report due
November 9, 2015 Ballot access Filing period for party candidates closes at 12:00 p.m.; filing period for nonpartisan candidates closes at 3:00 p.m.; filing period closes for independent and write-in candidates
December 15, 2015 Campaign finance November monthly report due
January 15, 2016 Campaign finance December monthly report due
February 1, 2016 Campaign finance Statement of financial interest for 2015 due for all candidates
February 16, 2016 Campaign finance January monthly report due
February 23, 2016 Campaign finance If opposed in primary, preelection report due for primary election
March 1, 2016 Election date Preferential primary election; nonpartisan general election
March 15, 2016 Campaign finance If unopposed in primary or did not participate in primary, February monthly report due
March 15, 2016 Campaign finance Preelection report due for primary election runoff
March 22, 2016 Election date General primary runoff election
April 15, 2016 Campaign finance If candidate did not participate in primary, March monthly report due
May 2, 2016 Campaign finance Final report due for primary election and primary runoff
May 16, 2016 Campaign finance April monthly report due
June 15, 2016 Campaign finance May monthly report due
July 15, 2016 Campaign finance June monthly report due
August 9, 2016 Election date Municipal party primary election
August 15, 2016 Campaign finance July monthly report due
September 15, 2016 Campaign finance August monthly report due
September 20, 2016 Election date Annual school board election
October 11, 2016 Election date Annual school board runoff election
October 17, 2016 Campaign finance September monthly report due
November 1, 2016 Campaign finance Preelection report due
November 8, 2016 Election date General election; nonpartisan runoff election
November 15, 2016 Campaign finance October monthly report due if unopposed
November 22, 2016 Campaign finance Preelection report due for special runoff election
November 29, 2016 Election date General runoff election (county and municipal)
December 30, 2016 Campaign finance Final report due general and runoff election
Sources: Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed August 7, 2015
Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, "Running for Public Office: 2016 Edition," accessed September 21, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 7 of the Arkansas Code

A candidate in Arkansas may run for office as a candidate of a recognized political party, as an independent, or as a write-in.

Political party candidates

A political party candidate must seek his or her party's nomination through either a primary election or party convention.[6][7][8]

A political party candidate must file an affidavit of eligibility, political practices pledge, and party certificate with the Arkansas Secretary of State by March 1 in the year of the election. If March 1 falls on a holiday or weekend, these forms are due on the following business day. The candidate must pay a filing fee if one has been established by his or her party.[6][7][8]

Independent candidates

An independent candidate must file a political practices pledge, affidavit of eligibility, and notice of candidacy with the Arkansas Secretary of State by March 1 in the year of the election. If March 1 falls on a holiday or weekend, these forms are due on the following business day.[6][7][8]

Independent candidates must also collect petition signatures to gain ballot access. This process may begin 90 days before the petition filing deadline. The signature requirements vary depending on the office being sought. If a candidate is running for state executive office or the United States Senate, 10,000 qualified signatures, or the equivalent of 3 percent of voters in the state, whichever is fewer, are required. If the candidate is running for state legislative office or the United States House of Representatives, signatures equaling 3 percent of voters in the county, township, or district in which the candidate is seeking office are required. If this amount exceeds 2,000, the requirement is capped at 2,000.[6][7][8][9]

Write-in candidates

Write-in candidates are not permitted to participate in presidential, municipal, or primary elections. In order to have his or her votes counted, a write-in candidate must file a political practices pledge, affidavit of eligibility, and a written notice of write-in candidacy with the Arkansas Secretary of State no later than 90 days prior to the general election. The candidate must also file a written notice of write-in candidacy with each county in which he or she seeks election.[6][7][8]

Vacancies

Upon the death, resignation, or removal of a member of the U.S. Senate, the governor must make an appointment to fill the vacancy. If the term of the departing senator would have ended at the next scheduled general election, the gubernatorial appointee will serve out the remainder of the term. No special election will be held. If the term of the departing senator was not set to expire at the next general election (and the vacancy occurred four months or more before the next general election), a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the vacated term will be held concurrently with the next general election. If the vacancy occurred less than four months before the next general election, a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term will be held concurrently with the second general election occurring after the vacancy.[10]

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain ballot access. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Arkansas.

Format requirements

In Arkansas, both the process to establish a new political party and the process to become a candidate can involve petitions. To establish a political party, a petition containing 10,000 signatures is required, and these signatures must be gathered within a specified 90-day window in order to be counted.[11]

Petitions to put a candidate on the ballot are only required for independent candidates. Though these candidates also have a specified 90-day window to circulate their petitions, the number of signatures they need to gather varies depending on the office being sought.[12][7]

Signature requirements

Whether trying to establish a political party or put an independent candidate on the ballot, all signatures on a petition must be those of registered voters in Arkansas.[7]

The relevant state statutes do not specify circulator requirements. There are no residency requirements for circulators.

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Arkansas Secretary of State, Election Division

State Capitol, Room 256
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone: 501-682-5070
Email: electionsemail@sos.arkansas.gov
Website: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/

Arkansas Ethics Commission:

P.O. Box 1917
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Telephone: 501-324-9600
Email: contactus@arkansasethics.com
Website: http://www.arkansasethics.com/

Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners

501 Woodlane Dr., Suite 401 N
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone: 501-682-1834
Fax: 501-682-1782
Email: info.SBEC@sos.arkansas.gov
Website: http://www.arkansas.gov/sbec/
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Term limits

State executives and legislators in Arkansas are subject to term limits. These limits were established by the Arkansas Term Limits Initiative, which was passed by voters in 1992 and became Amendment 73 of the Arkansas Constitution.

State executives

State Executive Officials
See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

The state executive term limits in Arkansas are as follows:[13]

The two state executives who were term-limited in 2014 were:

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

On November 3, 2020, voters approved a constitutional amendment imposing term limits of 12 consecutive years on state legislators. Lawmakers can return to service after a four-year break.

Congressional partisanship

Portal:Legislative Branch
See also: List of United States Representatives from Arkansas and List of United States Senators from Arkansas

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Arkansas.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Arkansas
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 0 0
Republican 2 4 6
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 4 6

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

Below is the current partisan breakdown of members of the state legislature of Arkansas.

Arkansas State Senate

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 6
     Republican Party 29
     Independent 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 35

Arkansas House of Representatives

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 18
     Republican Party 82
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 100

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Arkansas. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

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External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Ballot Access News, "Arkansas Legislature Makes Petition Deadlines for New Parties and Independent Candidates Much Earlier," May 29, 2015
  2. ↑ Ballot Access News, "Arkansas Governor Signs Bill Moving Primary and Petition Deadlines," May 29, 2015
  3. ↑ Arkansas State Legislature, "Senate Bill 8, As Engrossed," May 27, 2015
  4. ↑ State Board of Election Commissioners, "Running for Public Office, A 'Plain English' Handbook for Candidates, 2014 Edition," accessed January 24, 2014
  5. ↑ Arkansas House Bill 2036, "An Act To Amend the Law Concerning Certain Procedural Dates In Election; To Amend the Law Concerning Certain Petitions; And For Other Purposes," Approved April 18, 2013 (timed out)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, "Running for Public Office: A 'Plain English' Handbook for Candidates," 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Arkansas Code of 1987, "Title 7, Elections," accessed October 30, 2013
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, "Running for Public Office: A 'Plain English' Handbook for Candidates," 2016
  9. ↑ On December 15, 2017, a federal judge ruled that Arkansas' March 1 deadline for independent candidates was unconstitutional.
  10. ↑ Arkansas Code, "Section 7-8-102," accessed November 30, 2017
  11. ↑ Arkansas House Bill 2036, "An Act To Amend the Law Concerning Certain Procedural Dates In Election; To Amend the Law Concerning Certain Petitions; And For Other Purposes," Approved April 18, 2013 (timed out)
  12. ↑ Running for Public Office, "A 'Plain English' Handbook for Candidates," 2014 Edition, accessed January 27, 2014
  13. ↑ Constitution of the State of Arkansas, "Amendment 73," accessed November 4, 2013
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