Resolution to eliminate party primary voting submitted to the Arkansas legislature

Little Rock, Arkansas – The party-system primary voting in Arkansas would be eliminated, according to a resolution submitted to the legislature on Thursday.

A single-ballot primary system must be established by the general assembly and ratified by voters, according to Senate Joint Resolution 12. The two candidates with the most votes on a ballot will be the ones on the primary ballot under this proposed arrangement, “regardless of each candidate’s political affiliation.”

The bill’s wording states that if just two candidates run for office, they will not be included on the primary ballot and will not move on to the general election.

Any election, whether general, special, or nonpartisan, will use the single-ballot method. Elections for municipal or local office would not be affected.

The proposed law will be presented to voters for approval or rejection once the legislature has finished drafting it. The modifications would apply to elections held after January 1, 2028, and take effect on January 1, 2027, if they were passed into law.