Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has set key dates for a special election to fill the state Senate seat left vacant following the death of Sen. Stan Berry, a Republican who represented District 44. The announcement, made Friday, outlines a clear timeline that will guide candidates and voters through the upcoming electoral process.
According to the governor’s proclamation, the special general election is scheduled for Aug. 4. This date will come after the state’s previously scheduled June 2 primary, which Sanders had set earlier in the week. If no candidate secures a majority in the primary, a runoff election will follow on June 30.
The seat became vacant after the passing of Sen. Stan Berry, prompting the need for a structured election process to ensure continued representation for the district. State officials have moved quickly to establish deadlines and filing requirements to keep the process on track.
For candidates seeking to enter the race, specific filing windows have now been established. Independent candidates must submit their notices of candidacy to the Secretary of State’s Office between noon on April 14 and noon on April 20. In addition, independent candidate petitions must be filed by noon on April 24.
Party-related filings are also tightly scheduled. Certificates of party nominations must be submitted by noon on July 8, while candidates filing certificates of nomination have until 5 p.m. on the same day to complete their paperwork.
Once candidates are officially certified, ballot order will be determined through drawings scheduled for July 9. This step ensures placement on the ballot is decided fairly and transparently ahead of the August election.
State officials emphasized that all necessary forms and additional information are available through the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website, where candidates and voters can access detailed guidance on the election process.
The timeline reflects a structured effort to move the special election forward efficiently while ensuring compliance with state election laws. With multiple deadlines approaching over the coming months, potential candidates will need to act quickly to secure their place on the ballot.
As Arkansas prepares for both a primary and a possible runoff before the final special election in August, attention now turns to who will step forward to fill the vacant Senate seat and continue representing District 44 in the state legislature.
