RISON - The Cleveland County Election Commission held its ballot draw for the 2026 General Election and Special Election Monday afternoon at the Cleveland County Courthouse in Rison.
The ballot draw determines the position each candidate will appear on the ballot for the two elections that will take place on Nov. 3. Alivia Nixon, a senior a Woodlawn High School, conducted the ballot draw for both elections.
Early voting for the general election begins on Oct. 15. New voters wanting to vote in the general election must register by Oct. 5, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State's office.
Each county conducts its own ballot draw for the contested races within that county. The draw applies to contested races at the federal, state and local levels. There seven contested races that will appear on the ballot in Cleveland County. All are on the federal and state level. Here is the order the candidates will appear for each contested race as well as how their name will appear:
U.S. Senate - Jeff Wadline (Libertarian), Senator Tom Cotton (Republican), Hallie Shoffner (Democrat).
Fourth District Congress - Congressman Bruce Westernman (Republican), James "Rus" Russell III (Democrat)
Governor - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican), Colty Shelby (Libertarian), State Senator Fred Love (Democrat)
Lt. Governor - Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge (Republican), Michael Kalagias (Libertarian)
Arkansas Secretary of State - Senator Kim Hammer (Republican), Kelly Grappe (Democrat), Michael Pakko (Libertarian)
Commissioner of State Lands - Secretary of State Cole Jester (Republican), Christopher Olson (Libertarian)
State Senate District 1 Special General Election - School Board Director Harrell Wilson (Republican), Mayor Tomeka Butler (Democrat)