One-week school board filing opens July 11

Those who wish to become candidates for Arkansas school boards now have less time to file than in years past. Beginning this year, the filing period for all state elections has been cut to just one week.

Filing for the Sept. 16 school election opens at noon Friday, July 11, and closes at noon Friday, July 18. The filing period for write-in candidates is from noon Wednesday, July 16, through noon Wednesday, July 23.

In Rector, only one school board position will appear on the ballot. Position two, currently held by Michael Lindsay following the death of long-time board member Allen Earls, will be decided in the upcoming election.

The decrease in the time allotted for filing has been attributed to Act 1049 of 2007. The amendment was made in order to better make the ballots available to absentee voters. In a statement to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Tim Humphries, legal counsel in the Arkansas secretary state's office said, "It was all done with the idea of getting the ballots printed and delivered to overseas absentee voters in a timely manner."

In order to be placed on the ballot, a person must submit to the Clay County clerk's office a petition with at least 20 signatures of registered voters from their school board election district. There is no fee required to run for school board.

The change in filing period has not been noticed by many in the state, prompting the Arkansas School Boards Association to send postcards to incumbent members in an effort to make them aware of the difference from years past. Brochures detailing the requirements and expectations associated with school board candidacy also have been made available at county clerks offices throughout the state.