MEDIA NOTIFICATION
May 4, 2026
City of Fort Smith candidate packets for Mayor and Director-at-Large Positions (Positions 5, 6 and 7) will be available for pickup in the City Clerk’s Office, located on the first floor at 623 Garrison Avenue, beginning at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Candidate Packets will be available each business day thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Each position is for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2027. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of the city for at least six months, and be a registered voter in Fort Smith. All candidates are required to file a Statement of Candidacy and submit a Petition containing the signatures of at least 50 registered voters residing in Fort Smith.
Statements of Candidacy and Petitions must be filed with the City Clerk within the official filing period prescribed by law, which begins at 12:00 noon on July 29, 2026, and concludes at 12:00 noon on August 5, 2026. Upon sufficiency, all qualified candidates will be placed on the General Election ballot.
The upcoming election dates are provided as follows:
| General Election: |
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Note: If no candidate receives a clear majority at the General Election, the two candidates receiving the most votes will be placed on the Runoff Election ballot.
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| Runoff Election: |
Tuesday, December 1, 2026 |
For more information, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 479-784-2208 or cityclerk@fortsmithar.gov
Sherri Gard, MMC
City Clerk
479-784-2207
sgard@fortsmithar.gov
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