Election time can be confusing. Every candidate is vying for your attention. In a small town, it’s even more chaotic because chances are you know the candidates personally – or you have a friend or relative that does. But the friend who is best for a day at the lake or your cousin who is best for bringing dessert to the family barbeque or your neighbor’s brother-in-law who is the best youth league coach may or may not be the best person for the job when it comes to running a government, keeping communities safe, or making decisions that will affect how an entire county’s worth of children are educated.  

Our goal here at Main Street Journal – Sparta is to help you sort through all the noise you are hearing. We want to provide comprehensive coverage of all the 2026 elections –because, yes, there is more than one and not all the noise is relevant for each of them. 
 
We want to be a source of information gathering – not side choosing. We want you to know that you can come here, get the facts, and go drink your coffee while you read and process. Then you can make your decisions free of any pressure or persuasion. You can keep your decision to yourself or choose to join the noise in support of the person you have decided is the best candidate after you’ve done your homework.  

So, here’s what we are doing over here at MSJ- Sparta for the next few months: 

  • Presenting lists of candidates for each office  
  • Providing you a timeline of when you need to show up at the polls if you wish to vote for a specific office 
  • Defining offices and gathering a brief list of “job” responsibilities for those who hold those offices. 
  • Collecting candidate biographies and statements about their plans for the office should they be elected so that we can introduce them properly – and fully – to our readers 
  • Collecting questions and the top topics of discussion that you, our community members would like to hear them speak on 

MSJ - SPARTA's 2026 ELECTION TIMELINE

February 19: Qualifying Deadline for Candidates
  • All candidates, regardless of party, wishing to be on the May 5 Primary Ballot and/or the August 6 General Election Ballot for county offices must have their completed petitions turned into the White County Election Commission no later than 12:00 noon. 
  • Main Street Journal – Sparta will post a final list of qualifying candidates listed by office/district they are seeking election for, but you can see the current list of which candidates have picked up petitions by clicking here: https://www.mainstreetjournal.llc/white-county-election-update/ 
February 23 – 26: Main Street Journal – Sparta's Voter Primer 
  • We will be publishing a series of articles this week that will aim to define the offices candidates are seeking to win. Through this series we will discuss what the job qualifications for said offices are as well as what responsibilities come with holding the office.  
  • NOTE: Candidates can withdraw their petition if they choose. They have until noon on Thursday, February 26, to request that their name be removed from a ballot. 
February 27 – March 14: Main Street Journal – Sparta's Candidate Introductions 
  • Over this time, we will be introducing to you those candidates who will have their names on the May 6 ballots. These are Republican or Democrat candidates* for the following offices: 
  • White County Executive 
  • White County Commission (across all 7 districts) 
  • White County School Board (districts 5, 6, 7) 
  • White County Sheriff 

*If time allows, we will begin introduction of independent candidates as well, however their names will not appear on the May 5 Ballot. 

March 10: Qualifying Deadline for Candidates  
  • All candidates, regardless of party, wishing to be on the August 6 State and Federal Primary Ballot and/or the August 6 General Election Ballot for city offices, must have their completed petitions turned into the White County Election Commission no later than 12:00 noon.  
  • Main Street Journal – Sparta will post a final list of qualifying candidates listed by office/district they are seeking election for. 
March 15 – April 15: Main Street Journal – Sparta's Candidate Q & A Series 
  • The community is being polled for questions and topics they would like to see electoral candidates address.  
    • These questions will be streamlined and sent to all candidates for a given office.  
    • MSJ – Sparta will be printing candidates’ responses verbatim. You will get the answer directly from the candidate themselves. Nothing added. Nothing taken away. 
April 6: Voter registration deadline 
  • Anyone wishing to vote in the May 6 Primary will need to be a registered voter in White County by this date.   
April 15 – April 30: Early Voting 
  • Registered voters who have made their decisions and would like to cast their votes before the May 5 date can do so at the White County Courthouse. Early voting gives you the chance to cast your vote at your convenience. Early Voting Results 
April 15 – May 4: Main Street Journal – Sparta's continued election coverage 
  • Registered voters who have made their decisions and would like to cast their votes before the May 5 date can do so at the White County Courthouse. Early voting gives you the chance to cast your vote at your convenience. 
  • More Candidate Encounters 
  • Mediated Question and Answer coverage 
May 5 – Republican and Democrat Primary Election Days 
  • Voters who did not participate in early voting will have to report to their district’s poll location to cast their vote.  
  • MSJ – Sparta will bring you updated results as soon as they become available 
  • MSJ – Sparta will bring you candidate coverage as the polls close 
May 6 – Post Primary Coverage 
  • Community reactions 
  • Candidate Statements 

Here’s the thing ... it doesn’t stop there! Main Street Journal – Sparta will begin the entire process again on May 7. We will follow a similar outline – but will provide definitive coverage dates as we close the first election cycle of the year – as we move toward the August 6 election. We will make sure to bring you more focused interviews and Q & A sessions with candidates you’ve already heard from as well as introduce you to ones whose names will be on the ballot for the first time.  

As the 2026 Election season unfolds, Main Street Journal – Sparta will continue delivering in-depth coverage, candidate profiles, debate insights, and breaking updates that matter to White County voters. Don’t miss a single development — subscribe today at mainstreetjournal.llc/sparta to ensure full access to our local election reporting. And be sure to check back often, as new stories, interviews, and analysis will be published regularly in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

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