Arkansas Voters Have Local Ballot Issues to Decide in November Election

by Axton Tackett - August 28, 2026

In addition to voting for candidates and statewide ballot measures on Nov. 3, 2026, voters across Arkansas may also have the opportunity to vote on local ballot measures in their county, city, or locality.

According to Arkansas law, cities and counties are limited to holding special elections on two days of the year during an election year, such as this year. Either on the second Tuesday in May or the second Tuesday in November. As federal law sets Election Day as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November for federal elections, and 2026 falls under a midterm election year (an election in the middle of the term of the president), these ballot issues will be voted on November 3, the first Tuesday of the month.

There is no central database of local elections in Arkansas. There are more likely more local ballot issues this November than are listed below. We compiled the list below using media or election official announcements. If you know of a special election taking place this November that’s not listed below, email us at publicpolicycenter@uada.edu so we can add it to this list.

Counties with Special Elections

Boone County:

Voters in this county are being asked to decide whether to approve a 0.25% local sales and use tax to fund criminal justice purposes, including (a) acquiring, constructing, improving, renovating, expanding, equipping, furnishing, operating, and maintaining criminal justice facilities as well as other related infrastructure purposes such as land acquisition and utility, road, and parking improvements, with the tax schedule to expire on March 31, 2037, if approved.

Source: Proclamation of Special Election | HarrisonDaily.com

Craighead County:

Voters in this county are being asked to consolidate the elected offices of county treasurer and tax collector into one position.

Source: Craighead County ordinance

Dallas County:

Voters in this county are being asked to decide whether to approve a 1% countywide sales and use tax, with 70% of net collections dedicated to county roads and 30% going towards law enforcement, ambulance services, or solid waste services.

Source: Dallas County Ordinance Notice

Garland County:

Voters in this county are being asked to answer two questions on their ballot this November. The first question referred by the Garland County Quorum Court is whether to continue the existing 0.625% countywide sales and use tax for five years, from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2032, to fund road, street, bridge, sidewalk, drainage, and related infrastructure improvements. The second question is whether to approve a 0.9-mill property tax to provide a continuing debt service funding for up to $34.8 million in bonds to acquire land and construct and equip capital improvements for Garland County public libraries.

Source: Garland County 2026 Local Issues

Saline County:

Voters living in this county will decide whether to reduce the Saline County Library System’s millage rate for maintenance and operations of libraries from 1.7 mills to 1.1 mills.

Source: Ordinance No. 2026 Saline County Library Funding Cut Proposal (PDF)

Cities with Special Elections

Brookland:

Voters living in this city have six bond proposals on their ballot to decide on, including refunding bonds, including $4.64 million in refunding bonds to refinance existing debt; $7.45 million in park improvement bonds to complete park and recreational facilities; $3.445 million in municipal building improvement bonds to complete a city building containing city offices and a police station; $3.385 million in sewer improvement bonds for sewer system improvements; $7.91 million in street improvement bonds for street and road construction and improvements; and $725,000 in emergency facilities improvement bonds for storm and emergency shelters, emergency alert sirens, and related facilities and equipment.

Source: 2026-05 Ordinance calling for special election to restructure bonds (PDF)

Bull Shoals:

Voters in this city are being asked to decide whether to authorize Sunday sales of alcohol.

Source: Ordinance No. 2026-07

Diamondhead:

Voters living in this city (as well as Hot Spring and Garland County) are being asked to approve the second phase of the expansion for the city's boundaries to include an area in Sections 27 and 28, Township 3 South, Range 18 West, Hot Spring County, Arkansas.

Sources: Annexation Info | City of Diamondhead, Garland County Local Issues 2026

Fort Smith:

Voters living in this city are being asked to vote on whether to change the city's form of government from the current city-administrator system to a mayor-council form of government. If passed, the new form of government would begin with elections in 2028 and would shift management responsibility toward the mayor.

Source: Fort Smith ordinance

Harrison:

Voters in this city are being asked to decide whether to approve a 0.25% local sales and use tax, with 65% of the revenue dedicated to maintaining city police and fire services and 35% dedicated to general municipal services, including building and ground maintenance, accounting, human resources, IT services, cemetery maintenance, and city administration.

Source: Ordinance No. 1552 Calling a Special Election in the City of Harrison, Arkansas

Hot Springs:

Voters living in this city are being asked to decide whether to authorize Sunday sales of alcohol.

Source: Garland County 2026 Local Issues

Jonesboro:

Voters in this city are being asked to decide whether to approve a city 5/8-cent (0.625%) sales and use tax dedicated to fund public safety initiatives, facilities, infrastructure, maintenance, and operations.

Sources: JonesboroRightNow.com, Public Safety Sales Use Tax Election County Clerk Filing

West Fork:

Voters living in this city and in the proposed annexation area are being asked to vote on the approval of whether to annex unincorporated territory including Sections 19–21, 28–29, and 31–32 of Township 15 North, Range 30 West, and part of Section 6 of Township 14 North, including all rights-of-way of roads adjoining the described area. If the annexation is approved, police protection, fire protection, solid-waste service, and street maintenance will be extended to the annexed area within three years.

Source: Ordinance No. 2026-541

Fire Departments with Special Elections

Greenbrier:

Voters living in this city are being asked to vote on the approval of the Greenbrier Volunteer Fire Department collecting fire department dues through property taxes, replacing the current voluntary tax while lowering the annual amount from $40 to $30 per residence via property tax bills.

Source: TheCabin.net