Independence County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
5 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 4 Independence County races, led by the Arkansas 16th Judicial Circuit Court, Division 2 (runoff) contest.
Judges
Arkansas 16th Judicial Circuit Court, Division 2 (runoff)Nonpartisan race · Kara Byars · Scott Davidson
Kara Byars
Kara Byars is a candidate for Circuit Judge, Division 2 of Arkansas's 16th Judicial Circuit, which covers Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard and Stone Counties, facing a November 3, 2026 runoff, per her campaign site.
Scott Davidson
Scott Davidson is a Batesville attorney who has practiced law for 37 years, beginning his career in 1988 before establishing his own practice; his work has included jury trials, adoptions, divorces, injury claims and cases before the state's appellate courts, per his campaign site. He is a candidate for Circuit Judge, Division 2 of Arkansas's 16th Judicial Circuit.
Kara Byars and Scott Davidson are on the November 3, 2026 runoff ballot for this seat on the 16th Judicial Circuit, after neither received a majority of the vote in the March 3, 2026 nonpartisan judicial primary, per the Arkansas Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list (post-primary active filings). Sitting Circuit Judge Don McSpadden did not seek reelection to this seat. Under Arkansas law, a nonpartisan judicial race that does not produce a majority winner in the March 3, 2026 primary goes to a runoff on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. Every voter in Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, and Stone counties elects this seat, since Arkansas circuit judges are elected circuit-wide across the 16th Judicial Circuit (Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Stone), per the Arkansas Judiciary's circuit map (cross-checked against the Arkansas Times' March 2026 primary-night judicial roundup). Arkansas circuit court races are nonpartisan.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Independence County is split across 3 Arkansas House districts.
Find your districts by addressArkansas House: 3 districtsDistricts 28, 39, 40
Arkansas House District 28Bart Schulz (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Bart Schulz
Bart Schulz represents Arkansas House District 28. He is a fifth-generation farmer raising beef cattle in Sidney and serves as General Manager of Spring River Paramedic Ambulance Service, per his campaign site. He has been a volunteer firefighter since 1987 and served more than 10 years on the Sharp County Quorum Court before his election to the House, per his campaign site.
Bart Schulz (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Arkansas House District 28; unopposed candidates still appear on Arkansas ballots. Bart Schulz is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 3, 2026 primary (March 31 runoff where needed), per the Secretary of State.
Full race pageArkansas House District 39Wayne Long (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Wayne Long
Wayne Long is a small business owner and farmer from Bradford, per arkansashouse.org. He is serving his second term in the Arkansas House and previously served as Jackson County Justice of the Peace, per arkansashouse.org. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Wayne Long (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Arkansas House District 39; unopposed candidates still appear on Arkansas ballots. Wayne Long is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 3, 2026 primary (March 31 runoff where needed), per the Secretary of State.
Full race pageArkansas House District 40Shad Pearce (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Shad Pearce
Shad Pearce is retired and holds a bachelor's degree in criminology from Arkansas State University, per arkansashouse.org. He is serving his second term in the Arkansas House, representing District 40 from Batesville, per arkansashouse.org. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Shad Pearce (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Arkansas House District 40; unopposed candidates still appear on Arkansas ballots. Shad Pearce is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 3, 2026 primary (March 31 runoff where needed), per the Secretary of State.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Who is on the ballot in Independence County, Arkansas on November 3, 2026?
Independence County sample ballot 2026: who is running for arkansas house, with bios, priorities and campaign sites. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Arkansas?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Arkansas are listed on the Arkansas election hub. Arkansas election hub →
How do I see my exact Independence County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →