Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Arkansas state legislative special elections, 2016
Two seats had vacancies in the Arkansas State Legislature in 2016. The seats in state House District 9 and state House District 99 were filled through special elections.
Vacancy filled
- State House District 9: The seat was vacant following Sheilla Lampkin's (D) death on July 23, 2016.
- State House District 99: The seat was vacant following Kelley Linck's (R) resignation on June 3, 2016.
Breakdown of 2016 special elections
Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:
- 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
- 11 were due to a retirement
- 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 12 were due to a death
- 4 were due to a conviction
- 3 were due to filling a remaining term
- 1 was due to an expulsion
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 37 Democratic seats
- 28 Republican seats
Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
Democratic Party | 37 | 39 | |
Republican Party | 28 | 24 | |
Independent | 0 | 2 | |
Total | 65 | 65 |
Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the Arkansas General Assembly, the governor must call for a special election to fill the vacancy. The election must be called by the governor without delay.[1][2] For all special elections in the Senate, the county that first established the district is responsible for conducting the election.[3] If the special election is to fill a House seat, the county board of election commissioners representing the vacant district conducts the election.[4][5]
See sources: Arkansas Stat. Ann. § 7-11-103 and Arkansas Cons. Art. 5, § 6
Special elections
November 8, 2016
☑ Arkansas House of Representatives District 9 | |
---|---|
A special election for the position of Arkansas House of Representatives District 9 was called for November 8. The filing deadline for parties to select their nominees was August 8.[6][7] The seat was vacant following Sheilla Lampkin's (D) death on July 23, 2016. She died after a battle with ovarian cancer.[8] LeAnne Burch (D) was unopposed in the special election. Write-in candidate Jim Hall (R) was disqualified from appearing on the ballot.[9][10]
|
☑ Arkansas House of Representatives District 99 | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A special election for the position of Arkansas House of Representatives District 99 was called for November 8. The seat was vacant following Kelley Linck's (R) resignation on June 3, 2016.[11] Jack Fortner (R) defeated Richard Bernard (L) in the special election.[12]
|
See also
- State legislative special elections, 2016
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Arkansas State Senate elections, 2014
- Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012
- Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Arkansas State Legislature
- Arkansas state legislative special elections: 2014, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-118)
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-119)
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-120(a)(1))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 7-11-103(a))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 24, 2025 (Statutes, 7-11-105 1 (a)-(c))
- ↑ My Monticello News, "Governor calls special election for vacant seat," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Times Record, "Governor sets special election for vacant Arkansas House seat," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Magnolia Reporter, "Arkansas House: House loses friend with the death of Rep. Sheilla Lampkin," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ FOX 13, "Judge finds Arkansas House hopeful ineligible for ballot," September 13, 2016
- ↑ NWA, "Death of State Representative Creates Two Vacancies for Voters to Fill in November," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Times, "Kelley Linck resigns from legislature to lobby for DHS," accessed November 28, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election," accessed November 28, 2016
![]() |
State of Arkansas Little Rock (capital) |
---|---|
Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |