REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES

There will be many opportunities for voters in northeast Benton County this year with each of the municipalities — Garfield, Gateway and Pea Ridge — having mayorial elections.

According to the Benton County Clerk’s Office, filing times begin 102 days before the General Election and end 81 days before the General Election — July 27, 2018, through noon Aug. 17, 2018.

According to Arkansas law, a candidate for municipal offices with the mayorcouncil form of government must file a petition of nominaation, an affidavit of eligibility, a petition affidavit and a political practices pledge with the county clerk’s office.

To vote in an election, a person must be registered to vote.

• Be an Arkansas resident (residing in Arkansas at least 31 days prior to the first election in which you will vote)

• Be age 18 or turn 18 on or before the next election

• Not be a convicted felon whose sentence has not been discharged or pardoned

• Not be presently adjudged as mentally incompetent as to your ability to vote by a court of competent jurisdiction

• Not claim the right to vote in another county in Arkansas or another state

Forms are available on the county website (vote. bentoncountyar.gov) or at the County Courthouse. Mail or personally deliver completed form and documentation (as required) to: Benton County Clerk, 215 East Central Ave. Room 217, Bentonville, AR 72712.

Potential voters must submit the application to an official voter registration agency or mail it no later than 30 days prior to an election in which they wish to vote. The postmark on a mail-in application will be considered the submission date.