Proposed bill would require Arkansas canvassers to warn signers
One of the bills that could change Arkansas’s ballot petition process overcame another roadblock on Monday as it moved through the House.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new proposed bill in Arkansas will require petition canvassers across the state to inform potential signers of the fact that petition fraud is a criminal offense.
Rep. Kendon Underwood, the co-sponsor of SB 207, presented the bill in front of lawmakers on Monday and said it provides awareness and deters bad actors.
“It deters fraudulent activity and deceptive practices, promotes transparency, and because it lets everyone know the serious nature of signing a government document,” he described.
During Monday’s meeting, Democratic Rep. Tippi McCullough questioned how these criminal offenses made by canvassers would be defined.
“I want to understand what specific evidence will be needed to prove a canvasser failed to inform a signer about petition fraud being a crime?” she asked.
Despite these concerns, the bill passed the House with 67 yeses and 27 votes for no.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Brian Evans commented on the decision after the meeting, following the bill’s back-and-forth in both chambers.
“They’ve been thoroughly vetted. They’ve been debated, and most all questions have been answered but overall, I think coming into session most of everyone knew,” Evans explained.
That bill will now head back to a Senate committee for an approval on an amendment added by the House.
Two other bills focused on the petition process were supposed to be discussed in the Senate on Monday but were pushed to be on the agenda for Tuesday.