§ Ark. Code § 7-7-203Dates

(a) The general primary election shall be held on the Tuesday four (4) weeks following the
preferential primary election.
(b) The preferential primary election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in March.
(c)(1) The party filing period shall be a one-week period beginning at 12:00 noon on the first
Monday in November preceding the general primary election and ending at 12:00 noon on the
eighth day thereafter.
(2) Party pledges, if any, and affidavits of eligibility shall be filed, any filing fees of a political
party, if any, shall be paid, and party certificates shall be issued by the party during regular office
hours during the party filing period.
(3) A party certificate and the political practices pledge shall be filed with the county clerk or
the Secretary of State, as the case may be, during regular office hours during the party filing
period.
(4) The name of a candidate who fails to file a party certificate and political practices pledge
by the filing deadline with the Secretary of State or county clerk, as the case may be, shall not
appear on the ballot.
(5) Party pledges, if any, shall be filed, filing fees, if any, shall be paid, and party certificates
and political practices pledges shall be filed for special primary elections on or before the deadline
established by proclamation of the Governor or other entity authorized to call a special primary
election.
(d)(1) At least seventy-five (75) days before the preferential primary election, the Secretary of
State shall certify to the various county committees and to the various county boards of election
commissioners a list of the names of all candidates who have filed party certificates with the
Secretary of State within the time required by law.
(2) At least seventy-five (75) days before the preferential primary election, the county clerk
shall certify to the county committees and to the county board of election commissioners a list of
the names of all candidates who have filed party certificates with the county clerk within the time
required by law.
(e)(1) The county board of election commissioners shall convene, at the time specified in the
notice to the members given by the chair of the board, no later than the tenth day after each
primary election for the purpose of canvassing the returns and certifying the election results.
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NOMINATIONS AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS
7-7-203
(2) If no time is specified for the meeting of the county board of election commissioners, the
meeting shall be at 5:00 p.m.
(f) The county convention of a political party holding a primary election shall be held:
(1) No sooner than the day after the general primary election is held or, if no general primary
election is held, no sooner than the day after the preferential primary election is held; and
(2) No later than one hundred (100) days before the general election.
(g)(1)(A) The county board of election commissioners shall certify to the county clerk and the
county committee a list of all candidates who received the most votes or are unopposed on the
ballot for county, township, and municipal offices, and the political parties’ county committee
members and delegates.
(B) The list under subdivision (g)(1)(A) of this section shall be provided no later than:
(i) Ten (10) days after certification of the:
(a) General primary election; or
(b) If no general primary election will be held, the preferential primary election; and
(ii) One hundred (100) days before the general election.
(2) At the same time, the county board of election commissioners shall certify to the Secretary
of State and the secretary of the state committee the results of the contests for all United States,
state, and district offices. Immediately after ascertaining the results for all United States, state,
and district offices, the Secretary of State shall certify to the state committee a list of all
nominated candidates for the offices.
(h)(1)(A) The Secretary of State shall at least one hundred (100) days before the date of the
general election notify by registered mail the chair and secretary of the state committee of the
respective political parties that a certificate of nomination is due for all nominated candidates
for United States, state, and district offices in order that the candidates’ names be placed on the
ballot of the general election.
(B)(i) The state committee shall issue certificates of nomination to all nominated candidates
for United States, state, and district offices, who shall file the certificates with the Secretary of
State at least ninety (90) days before the general election.
(ii) However, if the chair and secretary of the state committee of the respective political
parties are not properly notified as directed by subdivision (h)(1)(A) of this section, the failure
of a candidate to file a certificate of nomination by the deadline shall not prevent that
candidate’s name from being placed on the ballot of the general election.
(2)(A)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (h)(2)(A)(ii) of this section, each county clerk shall
at least one hundred (100) days before the date of the general election notify by certified mail,
restricted delivery, the chairs and secretaries of the county committees of the respective
political parties that a certified list of all nominated candidates for county, township, and
municipal offices is due and shall be filed with the county clerk in order that the candidates’
names be placed on the ballot for the general election.
(ii) Upon written agreement by the chairs of the county committees of the respective political
parties, the county clerk may notify the chairs and secretaries of the county committees of the
respective political parties by email with a read receipt requested.
(B)(i) Each county political party committee shall issue the certified list on behalf of those
nominated candidates and submit the certified list to the county clerk and county board of
election commissioners at least ninety (90) days before the general election.
(ii) However, if the chairs and secretaries of the county committees of the respective political
parties are not properly notified as directed by subdivision (h)(2)(A) of this section, the failure
of a certified list to be filed by the deadline shall not prevent any candidate’s name from being
placed on the ballot of the general election.