Drew County voters will choose a new county judge and decide a three-way race for sheriff in the Nov. 3 general election, and early voting opens Monday, Oct. 19. A county list of contested races, posted by Monticello Live early Friday, also shows three contested seats on the Quorum Court.
Voters in Monticello, Wilmar, Tillar, Jerome and the rest of the county will also see statewide and federal races and four statewide ballot issues.
Key dates
The dates on the county list match the Arkansas Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar.
- Early voting begins: Monday, Oct. 19. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
- Last day to vote early: Monday, Nov. 2. Early voting closes at 5 p.m.
- Absentee ballot request by mail, fax or email: Must reach the county clerk by Tuesday, Oct. 27.
- Absentee ballot request or return in person: By close of business Friday, Oct. 30.
- Mailed absentee ballots: Must arrive at the clerk’s office by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3.
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Runoff, if needed: Tuesday, Dec. 1.
The deadline to register for this election was Oct. 5.
County races
The county judge and sheriff candidates also appear on the Association of Arkansas Counties’ general-election candidate list. Candidates are listed in the order shown on the county list.
- County judge: Robert Akin (independent) and Michael L. Owens (Republican). Owens won the Republican nomination in March over County Judge Jessie L. Griffin, so the office will change hands in January.
- Sheriff: Jerome Lamaine Perez (independent), Larry Smith (independent) and Sheriff Tim Nichols (Republican), the incumbent.
- Justice of the peace, Position 6: Logan Fuqua (independent) and Donna Harton Usry (Republican).
- Justice of the peace, Position 7: Joe Williams Jr. (independent) and Craig Kaminicki (Republican).
- Justice of the peace, Position 8: Frank Appleberry (independent) and David H. Barnett Jr. (Republican).
State Senate special election
Voters in the parts of Drew County inside Senate District 1 will also fill the seat Ben Gilmore left when he resigned June 30. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the special election in July.
- Candidates: Harrell Wilson of Rison, a Republican and school board member, and Eudora Mayor Tomeka Butler, a Democrat.
- The district: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot and Cleveland counties, plus parts of Drew, Grant, Jefferson and Lincoln counties, the Arkansas Advocate reported.
- The term: The winner serves the rest of Gilmore’s term, through 2029.
Statewide and federal races
- U.S. Senate: Hallie Shoffner (Democrat), Sen. Tom Cotton (Republican) and Jeff Wadlin (Libertarian).
- U.S. House, 4th District: Rep. Bruce Westerman (Republican) and James “Rus” Russell III (Democrat).
- Governor: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican), Colt Shelby (Libertarian) and state Sen. Fred Love (Democrat).
- Lieutenant governor: Michael Kalagias (Libertarian) and Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge (Republican).
- Secretary of state: Michael Pakko (Libertarian), Kelly Grappe (Democrat) and state Sen. Kim Hammer (Republican).
- Commissioner of state lands: Christopher Olson (Libertarian) and Secretary of State Cole Jester (Republican).
The four statewide measures are explained in the iSEARK.com ballot issues guide.
See your own ballot
Drew County sample ballots are now loaded into voter profiles on the state’s VoterView site, according to a second county notice shared by Monticello Live.
- Step 1: Go to VoterView.org.
- Step 2: Enter your first name, last name and date of birth, then click Look Up.
- Step 3: Pick the Nov. 3, 2026, general election and open the Drew County sample ballot.
- Polling place: The same profile shows your precinct and Election Day polling site. Call the Drew County Clerk’s office in Monticello with questions about early-voting sites.
Sources: Drew County contested-candidate list and voting-deadline and sample-ballot notices shared by Monticello Live on Oct. 16, 2026; Arkansas Secretary of State 2026 election calendar and absentee voting rules; Association of Arkansas Counties 2026 candidate lists; Governor’s Office proclamation; Arkansas Advocate.
