AR SB215

Amends Arkansas Code § 14-42-206 to establish filing procedures for independent candidates seeking municipal office in cities and towns with mayor-council form of government.

Requires independent candidates to file nomination petitions with the county clerk between 102 days and 81 days before the general election by 12:00 noon, with minimum signatures of 10 qualified electors for incorporated towns and second-class cities, or 30 electors for first-class cities.

Mandates county clerk determination of petition sufficiency within 10 days of filing and no later than 75 days before the general election, with prompt notification to the candidate of the result.

Allows municipal governing bodies to enact ordinances requiring independent candidate petitions to be filed no earlier than 20 days prior to and no later than 12:00 noon on the day before the preferential primary election.

Prohibits a person from filing for more than one municipal office during the municipal filing period and bars candidates defeated in party primaries from filing as independent candidates in the general election for the same office.