Libertarian Party of Arkansas submits signatures to state to qualify for ballot access

The Libertarian Party of Arkansas (LPAR) submitted 13,238 signatures to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office Tuesday (Nov. 25). It exceeded the 10,000 registered voter signatures required to be recognized as a new political party.

Should the petition be certified as sufficient, the LPAR will be eligible to nominate candidates for all partisan offices up for election in 2026, including federal, state and local races.

This is the eighth time that the Libertarian Party has sought such recognition. In each previous case, they were successful. Libertarians have been on the ballot in Arkansas in every general election since 2012.

“It’s about time for the state to revise its election laws to recognize parties beyond the established duopoly,” said Michael Pakko, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Arkansas. “The current system, which requires us to petition every cycle, disrespects the vital contribution we make to the political process and, more importantly, the demonstrable support we have among Arkansas voters.”

The Secretary of State’s office will review and certify, if successful, the signatures.

The LPAR plans to nominate its candidates at a state convention on the weekend of Feb. 21-22, 2026. Nominees must submit their credentials by noon on the date of the preferential primary election, March 3, before proceeding to the November 2026 general election.