What You Should Know About the 2026 Arkansas Primary Elections

by Kristin Higgins - January 8, 2026

Arkansans have school, county, judicial, state and federal elections to decide March 3, and some voters may see local ballot issues as well.

We offer you a primer on the upcoming Arkansas elections and important dates.

Who or What is on the Ballot?

The Arkansas Secretary of State's Office may have a sample ballot personalized to you at www.voterview.ar-nova.org. Many county clerks also post an example on their websites.

Candidates in March 3 elections filed for office last year. Arkansas does not allow write-in candidates. 

There are multiple elections taking place March 3 in Arkansas, including:

Arkansas Preferential Primary - This is when voters choose candidates for county, state and federal offices on Democratic or Republican party ballots.

  • In counties where only one party has candidates, the winner of the March election will take office in 2027.
  • In counties where there are multiple political parties represented, the winners of each primary will be on the November 2026 General Election ballot.
  • A new rule this year prohibits voters who are registered as Democrats from voting in the Republican Party primary. 

Nonpartisan General Election - Judges for courts at the local and statewide level are chosen in this election. If no candidate receives a majority vote, a runoff will take place in the November 2026 General Election.

School elections - As of this year, all school elections will now take place during primary elections in even-numbered years. This includes candidates and property tax questions.

Local ballot issue elections - Arkansas law allows cities and counties to hold special elections twice a year, including on the spring ballot. Your sample ballot will show whether your city or county has referred a sales tax or property tax proposal for you to decide.

Special election for Senate District 26 and House District 70 - Voters in these two districts have a final candidate to select after a primary election on Jan. 6.

Important Arkansas Election Dates

Jan. 16 - Absentee ballots become available to voters who submitted an application

Feb. 2 - Deadline to register to vote if you are not already in the system

Feb. 17 - Early voting starts

Feb. 24 - Last day to request an absentee ballot

Feb. 27 - Last day to deliver completed absentee ballot in person or for clerk to receive it by mail

March 2 - Last day of early voting

March 3 - Election Day (Polls open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

March 13 - Last day for completed absentee ballot to be delivered by mail to the County Clerk's Office from military and overseas voters

March 31 - Primary runoff for party elections where a single winner was not declared

New Election Laws

There are several new election laws to be aware of going into March elections.

  • If you are already registered to vote in Arkansas, you can now update your voter registration information on Election Day. For example, if you moved from one county to another, you can update your information when voting. 

  • If you bring someone to help you vote, Act 593 of 2025 now requires that person to be at least 18 years old. Your helper must show photo identification and sign paperwork.

  • Voters who use absentee ballots to cast their vote because they will be unavoidably absent on Election Day must now have someone 18 or older witness their signing of the voter statement included with absentee ballots. The witness must also sign the form, print their name and include their mailing address, according to Act 846 of 2025.

  • Voters who use absentee ballots to cast their votes and receive help have several new requirements to follow. Voters living in a nursing home or similar type of long-term care facility have been able to receive assistance from the facility's administrator to fill out their ballot. Act 403 of 2025 now requires a staff member to witness the administrator's efforts. 

What ID Qualifies?

Arkansas lawmakers and voters have passed laws requiring people show photo identification in order to vote in any election. 

Voting in-person

  • Voters are required to present their photo ID to election workers. The identification must not be expired by more than four years.

  • Election workers will accept these photo IDs as proof of identity:
  • If the required ID is not provided, the voter will have until noon on the Monday following the election to present the required ID in person to the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners.

Voting with an absentee ballot

  • Absentee voters are required to provide a copy of their photo ID when they return their absentee ballot. See above for a list of acceptable photo IDs. 

  • If the required ID is not provided, the voter will have until noon on the Monday following the election to present the required ID in person to the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners.

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