# Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-203: Certification of candidate lists > Arkansas · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-203 ## Section - **Citation:** Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-203 - **Heading:** Certification of candidate lists - **Jurisdiction:** Arkansas - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** AR Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Subchapter 2 / Section 7-5-203 ## Text (a) (1) Not less than seventy-five (75) days before each general election day, the Secretary of State shall certify to all county boards of election commissioners full lists of all candidates to be voted for in their respective counties as the nominations have been certified or otherwise properly submitted to him or her. (2) A name of a person shall not be certified and shall not be placed on the ballot if prior to the certification deadline a candidate on the list: (A) Notifies the Secretary of State in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (b) (1) Not less than seventy-five (75) days before each general election day, the clerk of each county shall certify to the county board of election commissioners of his or her county a full list of all candidates to be voted for in the county as the nominations have been certified or otherwise properly submitted to him or her. (2) A name of a person shall not be certified and shall not be placed on the ballot if prior to the certification deadline a candidate on the list: (A) Notifies the county clerk in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (c) However, in special elections held to fill vacancies or to elect officers in case of a tie vote, the certification shall issue at the time specified in the writ of election issued by the appropriately constituted authority. Acts 1969, No. 465, Art. 6, § 6; 1985, No. 1055, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 3-606; Acts 1997, No. 451, § 8; 1999, No. 1490, § 4; 2005, No. 67, § 6; 2007, No. 1049, § 18; 2009, No. 1480, § 17; 2011, No. 1185, § 3. (a) (1) Not less than seventy-five (75) days before each general election day, the Secretary of State shall certify to all county boards of election commissioners full lists of all candidates to be voted for in their respective counties as the nominations have been certified or otherwise properly submitted to him or her. (2) A name of a person shall not be certified and shall not be placed on the ballot if prior to the certification deadline a candidate on the list: (A) Notifies the Secretary of State in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (1) Not less than seventy-five (75) days before each general election day, the Secretary of State shall certify to all county boards of election commissioners full lists of all candidates to be voted for in their respective counties as the nominations have been certified or otherwise properly submitted to him or her. (2) A name of a person shall not be certified and shall not be placed on the ballot if prior to the certification deadline a candidate on the list: (A) Notifies the Secretary of State in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (A) Notifies the Secretary of State in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. date and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (A) Notifies the Secretary of State in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (b) (1) Not less than seventy-five (75) days before each general election day, the clerk of each county shall certify to the county board of election commissioners of his or her county a full list of all candidates to be voted for in the county as the nominations have been certified or otherwise properly submitted to him or her. (2) A name of a person shall not be certified and shall not be placed on the ballot if prior to the certification deadline a candidate on the list: (A) Notifies the county clerk in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (1) Not less than seventy-five (75) days before each general election day, the clerk of each county shall certify to the county board of election commissioners of his or her county a full list of all candidates to be voted for in the county as the nominations have been certified or otherwise properly submitted to him or her. (2) A name of a person shall not be certified and shall not be placed on the ballot if prior to the certification deadline a candidate on the list: (A) Notifies the county clerk in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (A) Notifies the county clerk in writing, signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgements, of his or her desire to withdraw as a candidate for the office or position; or (B) Dies. (c) However, in special elections held to fill vacancies or to elect officers in case of a tie vote, the certification shall issue at the time specified in the writ of election issued by the appropriately constituted authority. Acts 1969, No. 465, Art. 6, § 6; 1985, No. 1055, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 3-606; Acts 1997, No. 451, § 8; 1999, No. 1490, § 4; 2005, No. 67, § 6; 2007, No. 1049, § 18; 2009, No. 1480, § 17; 2011, No. 1185, § 3. ## Nearby sections - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-201 Voter qualification](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-201.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-202 Public notice of elections](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-202.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-203 Certification of candidate lists](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-203.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-204 Certification of measures and questions submitted to voters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-204.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-205 Write-in candidates' votes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-205.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-206 Publication requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-206.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-207 Ballots - Names included - Draw for ballot position](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-207.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-208 Ballots - Form](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-208.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-209 Ballots - Correction of errors](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-209.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-211 Delivery of election supplies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-211.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-213 Counting votes when special error correction ballots are utilized - Procedures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-213.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 7-5-214 Candidate review of ballot content](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-214.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T7_C5_S2_S7-5-203. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.