Qualifying petitions were made available beginning December 20, 2021, with a deadline to return them by Noon, February 17, 2022. Candidates must declare whether they will participate in the Republican or Democratic primary in May or qualify as an independent candidate. The winners of the primaries will then appear on the general election ballot on August 4, 2022. Independent candidates will not appear on the May primary ballots and only appear on the general election ballot. All candidates must qualify by Noon on February 17, 2022, regardless of participating in a primary or not.
In addition to the county primaries on May 3, the primaries for the elected offices for the 15th Judicial District will also be held. Municipal and state elections are slated to occur later in 2022. Be sure to follow Smith County Insider for up-to-date coverage of the 2022 election cycle.
The following is a list of candidates that have picked up petitions as of February 17, 2022:
| Office | Candidate | Party | Date Issued | Date Filed |
| CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE – DIVISION I | Clara Byrd | Republican | 1/11/22 | |
| CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE – DIVISION II | Michael Collins | Republican | 12/20/21 | 12/20/21 |
| CHANCELLOR | CK Smith | Republican | 1/11/22 | |
| CRIMINAL COURT | Brody Kane | Republican | 12/27/21 | |
| DISTRICT ATTORNEY | Jason Lawson | Republican | 2/7/22 | |
| PUBLIC DEFENDER | Shelley Thompson Gardner Daniel J. Turklay | Republican Republican | 12/28/21 2/16/22 | |
| COUNTY MAYOR | Jeff Mason Arthur (Art) Shady Ricky Slack | Republican Republican Republican | 1/21/22 1/21/22 1/14/22 | 1/28/22 2/9/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 1 (Defeated) | Terry Givens Chris Nixon Helen Vose | Republican Republican Independent | 2/2/22 1/6/22 12/20/21 | 2/17/22 1/24/22 2/16/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 2 (Tanglewood) | Charles Kent Greta Anderson Kirby William S. (Billy) Bass | Republican Democratic Republican | 2/4/22 12/21/21 1/20/22 | 2/14/22 1/18/22 2/10/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 3 (New Middleton) | Scotty Barrett Stephanie McCaleb | Republican Independent | 1/25/22 2/16/22 | 2/17/22 2/17/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 4 (Rock City) | Matthew J. Inyart Cordell Smith Jr Erika Ebel Ronald Shumake James W. Smith | Republican Democratic Independent Independent Independent | 1/27/22 2/2/22 2/1/22 1/27/22 12/20/21 | 2/7/22 2/8/22 2/15/22 2/10/22 2/16/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 5 (Gordonsville) | Danny Irizarry Steven Lish Linda Nixon Eddie Stout Blake Richmond | Republican Republican Republican Republican Independent | 1/21/22 1/21/22 12/20/21 12/20/21 2/3/22 | 2/10/22 2/1/22 2/2/22 1/14/22 2/17/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 6 (Carthage) | Casey Elrod Justin Mauldin | Independent Independent | 12/30/21 2/10/22 | 2/4/22 2/17/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 7 (South Carthage) | Tommy Bane Junior Fields Connor D. McDonald | Republican Republican Republican | 1/5/22 12/21/21 1/6/22 | 2/8/22 1/5/22 1/19/22 |
| COUNTY COMMISSION – District 8 (Elmwood) | Tim Bellar Danny Huff Peggy Jo Silcox | Independent Independent Independent | 12/20/21 2/3/22 1/25/22 | 2/11/22 2/17/22 |
| TRUSTEE | Jackie Gentry Julie Wright Ronnie (RL) Lankford Craig Williams | Republican Republican Independent Independent | 2/4/22 12/20/21 1/12/22 2/9/22 | 2/11/22 12/28/21 2/3/22 2/14/22 |
| GENERAL SESSIONS JUDGE | Branden Bellar | Independent | 12/28/21 | 2/16/22 |
| SHERIFF | Steve Hopper Scott Moore | Republican Republican | 12/20/21 12/20/21 | 1/14/22 1/4/22 |
| CIRCUIT COURT CLERK | Tommy Turner | Independent | 2/4/22 | 2/11/22 |
| COUNTY CLERK | Jerome Donoho Clifa Norris | Independent Independent | 2/7/22 1/28/22 | 2/16/22 2/2/22 |
| REGISTER OF DEEDS | Jerri Lin Vaden-Malone | Independent | 2/1/22 | 2/9/22 |
| ROAD SUPERINTENDENT | Mickey G Barrett Kenneth Butch Shores | Republican Independent | 1/26/22 1/31/22 | 2/3/22 |
| SCHOOL BOARD – District 3 (New Middleton) | Marty McCaleb Stephanie Winfree | Republican Independent | 1/11/22 12/20/21 | 2/16/22 2/9/22 |
| SCHOOL BOARD – District 4 (Rock City) | Joe Taylor | Republican | 1/4/22 | 1/25/22 |
| SCHOOL BOARD – District 6 (Carthage) | Barbara Kannapel Ricky Shoulders | Republican Republican | 1/5/22 12/28/21 | 1/20/22 |
| SCHOOL BOARD – District 8 (Elmwood) | Scotty Lewis | Republican | 12/28/21 | 2/10/22 |
