Arkansas candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for Arkansas state candidates file with Arkansas Secretary of State.
3 more deadlines follow in this cycle.
Electbase emails you before every deadline — 14, 7, and 2 days out — and stays current as the official schedule changes.
Get deadline remindersIncluded in every Electbase plan · See pricingThis page also covers Arkansas candidate-filing (ballot access) deadlines for 2027–2028 — the process of becoming a qualified candidate, distinct from the campaign-finance reporting below. Here's how to run for office in Arkansas: what to file, when, and with whom.
12 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a Arkansas state candidate files with Arkansas Secretary of State for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Mar 3, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Periodic | AR December 2025 Monthly Monthly report covering December 2025 (due 20 days after month-end). |
Dec 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025 | |
| Periodic | AR January 2026 Monthly Monthly report covering January 2026. |
Jan 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | AR Pre-Primary Report Pre-election report 7 days before the March 3 primary; covers through 10 days before. |
Feb 1, 2026 – Feb 21, 2026 | |
| Periodic | AR April 2026 Monthly First post-primary monthly (includes March days carried past the primary). |
Mar 4, 2026 – Apr 30, 2026 | |
| Post-election | AR Primary Final Report Final report for the primary (opposed candidate). |
Feb 22, 2026 – Mar 3, 2026 | |
| Periodic | AR May 2026 Monthly Monthly report covering May 2026 (June 20 rolled to Monday). |
May 1, 2026 – May 31, 2026 | |
| Periodic | AR June 2026 Monthly Monthly report covering June 2026. |
Jun 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026 | |
| Periodic | AR July 2026 Monthly Monthly report covering July 2026. |
Jul 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2026 | |
| Periodic | AR August 2026 Monthly Monthly report covering August 2026 (September 20 rolled to Monday). |
Aug 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2026 | |
| Periodic | AR September 2026 Monthly Monthly report covering September 2026. |
Sep 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | AR Pre-General Report Pre-election report 7 days before the November 3 general; covers through 10 days before. |
Oct 1, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Post-election | AR General Final Report Final report for the general election, due January 20, 2027. |
Oct 25, 2026 – — |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Standard path for a state/district candidate opposed in both the March 3 primary and November 3 general, with no runoff. Monthly reports are due 20 days after each month's end, suppressed for any month whose days are captured by a pre-election or final report (February and October are suppressed). No reports are required until contributions or expenditures exceed $500. CONDITIONAL variants (not listed here): an unopposed candidate files the February monthly (Mar 20) and a March monthly (Apr 20) instead of the pre-primary report; runoff participation (primary runoff March 31) adds a pre-election + final report pair. Weekend/holiday deadlines are already rolled to the next business day.
Arkansas candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in Arkansas — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from Arkansas Secretary of State. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2027
Municipal
Municipal Offices (Mayor, Council, etc.)
Not yet published. Municipal filing deadlines follow state statutory formula: filing period closes 90 days before the municipal election date. Specific election dates for 2027 municipalities have not been set or published by the respective municipal authorities as of July 2026. Framework is established but dates depend on individual municipality decisions.
Filing authority: County Clerk (varies by municipality).
Next check: Jun 1, 2027.
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Section 7-7-102 - Candidate filing procedures for municipalities · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for Municipal Offices (Mayor, Council, etc.) in Arkansas Municipalities (various) for the 2027 Arkansas Municipal Elections (various dates) has not yet been published; check with County Clerk (varies by municipality). Source: Arkansas Legislature.
School Board
School Board Member
Not yet published. School board elections held on second Tuesday of November in odd-numbered years per Ark. Code § 6-14-101. Filing deadline is 90 days before election (approximately August 7 for November 2027 election). Write-in candidacy eliminated per Act 305 of 2023. Some districts may have spring elections with different dates.
Filing authority: School District Clerk (varies by district).
Next check: May 1, 2027.
Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 14, Sections 6-14-101 and 6-14-111 - School board elections and candidate filing · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for School Board Member in Arkansas School Districts (various) for the 2027 Arkansas School Board Elections has not yet been published; check with School District Clerk (varies by district). Source: Arkansas Legislature.
2028
Federal
President of the United States
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 7-7-203 - Dates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas Presidential Preference Primary (Mar 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
President of the United States
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Signatures: 10,000 or 3% of state qualified electors, whichever is less, per Ark. Code § 7-7-103(e)
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Section 7-7-103 - Filing as an independent · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
U.S. Senate — Class 3
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 7-7-203 - Dates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas Presidential Preference Primary (Mar 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
U.S. Senate — Class 3
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Signatures: Not less than 3% of state qualified electors or 10,000 signatures, whichever is less, per Ark. Code § 7-7-103
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Section 7-7-103 - Filing as an independent · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives — District 1
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 7-7-203 - Dates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas Presidential Preference Primary (Mar 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives — District 1
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Signatures: Not less than 3% of the qualified electors of the district (per Ark. Code § 7-7-103(d))
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Section 7-7-103 - Filing as an independent · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
State Legislative
Arkansas State Senate — All Districts (35 total)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 7-7-203 - Dates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Arkansas State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas Presidential Preference Primary (Mar 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
Arkansas House of Representatives — All Districts (100 total)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 7-7-203 - Dates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Arkansas House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas Presidential Preference Primary (Mar 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 12:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
Judicial
Circuit Court Judge — Various districts
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Petition deadline: Sep 16, 2027 · Write-in deadline: Jan 7, 2028
Files with: Arkansas Secretary of State
Fee: Tiered by office per Ark. Code § 7-10-103 · Signatures: If petitioning in lieu of filing fee: not less than 3% of the state's qualified electors per Ark. Code § 7-10-103
Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 10, Section 7-10-103 - Filing as a candidate · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Circuit Court Judge in Statewide for the 2028 Arkansas Presidential Preference Primary (Mar 7, 2028) closes Nov 8, 2027 at 3:00 PM America/Chicago. Opens Nov 1, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Arkansas Legislature.
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Electbase compiles these dates from official state sources as a workflow aid. It is not legal advice. Confirm every deadline with your filing authority before you rely on it.
Last updated August 27, 2026