In addition to choosing candidates on March 3, Arkansas voters may also have a local ballot issue question to decide.
Many counties have already loaded sample ballots on Arkansas Voter View, a website maintained by the Secretary of State’s Office. Early voting starts Feb. 17, and the deadline to register to vote is Feb. 2 if you are not already in the voter registration system.
Arkansas law limits cities and counties in Arkansas to holding special elections on two days of the year. During an election year such as this, the spring election takes place at the same time as the state primaries. The other date is the second Tuesday in November.
There is no central database of local elections in Arkansas. If you know of a special election taking place on March 3 that’s not listed below, email us at publicpolicycenter@uada.edu so we can share.
Using media or election official announcements, we know there are local ballot issue elections taking place in several communities. ARvotes, a website run by Arkansas volunteers, also publishes local election information, including school property tax elections and school board races.
Counties with Special Elections
Marion County: Voters living in this county have two sales tax proposals on their ballot to decide, including a permanent 0.25% sales tax that would be used for (1) building and equipping a new community center, (2) to pay for voter-approved capital improvement bonds issued by the county from time to time, and (3) for general purposes of county government.
The second sales tax proposal asks voters to approve a temporary 0.5% sales tax and issue up to $16,500,000 in bonds to pay for building the community center. This sales tax would expire when the bonds are paid off.
Source: Marion County Community Services, Inc. election information website
Cities with Special Elections
El Dorado: Voters living in this city are being asked to approve a permanent 0.5% sales tax to support the South Arkansas Regional Hospital.
Source: El Dorado News-Times
Fayetteville: Voters living in this city are being asked to renew a 1% sales tax that would otherwise expire once the current bond debt is paid off. The revenue from the proposed sales tax, if approved by voters, would be used to (1) refinance a past bond issue by up to $40 million, (2) issue up to $150,500,000 in bonds to pay for water and wastewater improvements, (3) issue up to $25,500,000 in bonds to pay for park system improvements, (4) issue up to $18,100,000 in bonds to build and equip an animal services building, (5) issue up to $3,800,000 in bonds for trail system improvements, (6) issue up to $56 million in bonds for transportation system improvements, (7) issue up to $1,050,000 in bonds for recycling program or sustainability improvements, (8) issue up to $61,900,000 in bonds for building and equipping an aquatics/recreation center, and (9) issuing up to $18,650,000 in bonds to build and equip a fire department training center and a new fire department.
Each bond issue is separate, but should voters approve any of the proposals and the bond refinancing question, the 1% sales tax would be considered approved. The sales tax would expire when the bonds are paid off.
Source: Voter view sample ballot
Go to city’s election information website
Harrison: Voters living in this city have two sales tax questions to decide. Voters will see a request for (1) a permanent 0.25% sales tax, and (2) a permanent 0.5% sales tax for water, sewer, street, drainage, composting, and public safety improvements.
Source: sample ballot on city website
Little Flock: Voters living in this city are being asked to approve a permanent 1% sales tax for general operating purposes.
Source: Benton County
Maumelle: Voters living in this city are being asked to renew a 0.5% sales tax that would otherwise expire once the current bond debt is paid off. The revenue from the proposed sales tax, if approved by voters, would be used to (1) refinance a past bond issue by up to $3,050,000, (2) issue up to $3,860,000 in bonds to pay for road improvements, (3) issue up to $5,390,000 in bonds to pay for constructing an indoor therapy pool at the Maumelle Center on the Lake, (4) issue up to $5,190,000 in bonds to pay for building and equipping a fire and police training building and indoor shooting range, (5) issuing up to $8,450,000 in bonds to pay for building and equipping a new fire station, (6) issuing up to $3,220,000 in bonds to pay for improvements at Lake Valencia, and (7) issuing up to $5,100,000 in bonds to pay for buying and installing artificial turf at the city’s athletic fields.
Each bond issue is separate, but should voters approve any of the proposals and the bond refinancing question, the 0.5% sales tax would be considered approved. The sales tax would expire when the bonds are paid off.
Source: City’s election information website
Siloam Springs: Voters living in this city are being asked to renew a .375% sales tax for a period of 10 years. The revenue from the sales tax, if approved by voters, would be split up as follows: 50% would be used for paying for improvements to city water, sewer, sanitation and electric facilities; 30% would be used for paying for street improvements; and the remaining 20% of the sales tax collected would be used for quality of life improvements, such as parks, sidewalks and trails.
Source: Benton County
Fire Departments with Special Elections
Rocky Branch Fire Protection Association (Benton County): Voters in this fire district are being asked to increase their fire department dues from $75 a year to $125 a year for residences; from $100 to $500 a year for businesses; and from $0 a year to $35 a year on vacant parcels. The fire dues are included on property tax bills.
Source: Benton County
School Districts with Special Elections
Farmington School District: Voters living in this school district are being asked to approve a property tax rate of 42.10 mills, an increase of two mills. The millage increase would help pay off a $26,625,000 bond issued for building a new junior high.
Source: School District election information website
Jasper/Kingston: Voters living in this school district in Madison County are being asked if they want to separate the two school districts that previously merged. There are two ballot questions. Voters are being asked if they are (1) for or against the creation of a new school district in the territory that formerly made up the Kingston School District and (2) for or against the detachment of that territory from the Jasper School District pursuant to Act 919 of 2025.
Source: Madison County Record
Lee County School District: Voters living in this school district are being asked to approve a property tax rate of 40.8, an increase of 12.5 mills. The millage increase would help pay for a new K-12 school building. A similar election in November 2025 ended in a tie, leading the district to try again in 2026.
Source: School District election information
Reminder: State Law Requires School Tax Rates to Appear on Ballot Even When District Doesn’t Seek Changes to Millage Rate
The Arkansas Constitution requires school districts to put their property tax rate on the ballot every year, even if there are no increases or changes to millage rates.
If you see a school property tax listed on your sample ballot, look at the last sentence on the ballot. This is your clue.
- If your ballot says the levy or amount “represents the same rate presently being collected,” the district is not asking for an increase. Votes cast in this situation will not affect the property tax rate even if a majority of voters mark Against Tax.
- If your ballot says the levy represents an increase, the district IS asking for a property tax increase. Votes cast in this situation will be counted, and the property tax rate would increase if a majority of voters mark For Tax.
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by Kristin Higgins – January 12, 2026 | originally published here
