§ 6-14-111 - Ballots -- Write-in candidates. - Arkansas Statutes

6-14-111. Ballots -- Write-in candidates.

(a) (1) All candidate filings pursuant to this subchapter shall be with the county clerk of the county in which the school district is domiciled for administrative purposes.

(2) All actions required of county boards of election commissioners shall be performed by the county board of election commissioners of the county in which the school district is domiciled for administrative purposes.

(b) The county board of election commissioners shall prepare and furnish ballots and all other necessary supplies for the annual school election.

(c) A candidate for a position on the board of directors of a school district may qualify for the ballot by filing a political practices pledge, an affidavit of eligibility, and either:

(1) A petition; or

(2) A notice of write-in candidacy.

(d) (1) The petition shall be directed to the county clerk and shall contain the names of at least twenty (20) registered voters who are residents of the school district and, if applicable, the electoral zone for the position.

(2) The petition shall:

(A) State the name and title of the candidate that the candidate proposes to appear on the ballot; and

(B) Identify the position sought, including without limitation the position number or other identifying information if applicable.

(e) The petition, affidavit of eligibility, and the candidate's political practices pledge shall be filed with the clerk during a one-week period ending at 12:00 noon sixty (60) days before the annual school election.

(f) (1) Candidates may begin circulating petitions not earlier than ninety (90) days before the annual school election.

(2) A signature dated more than ninety (90) days before the school election shall not be counted by the clerk as a valid signature.

(g) Votes for a write-in candidate for school district director shall not be counted or tabulated unless the candidate files with the county clerk during a one-week period ending at 12:00 noon fifty-five (55) days before the annual school election:

(1) A written notice of his or her intention to be a write-in candidate identifying the position sought, including without limitation the position number or other identifying information if applicable;

(2) An affidavit of eligibility; and

(3) The political practices pledge.

(h) The county board of election commissioners shall place on the ballot as candidates for school district director the names of any qualified registered voters whose political practices pledges and affidavits of eligibility have been filed and whose petitions have been filed with and verified by the county clerk of the county in which the school district is domiciled for administrative purposes.

(i) (1) On the day after the deadline for candidates to file for a position on the board of directors by petition, the county clerk shall certify to the board of election commissioners the names of those candidates who are registered voters in the school district and the electoral zone, if applicable, and who have qualified for the ballot by petition.

(2) Immediately after the close of the write-in filing period, the county clerk shall certify to the county board of election commissioners any write-in candidates who have filed the affidavit of eligibility, the notice of write-in candidacy, and the political practices pledge with the clerk.

(j) The order in which the names of the respective candidates are to appear on the ballot shall be determined by lot at the public meeting of the county board of election commissioners held not later than fifty-five (55) days before the annual school election.

(k) When a candidate has identified the position sought on the petition or notice of write-in candidacy, the candidate shall not be allowed to change the position on that petition or notice of write-in candidacy but may withdraw a petition or notice of write-in candidacy and file a new petition or notice of write-in candidacy designating a different position before the deadline for filing.