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ArkansasSB5512025 Regular SessionSenate

TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSING FOR A PETITION FOR A LOCAL OPTION ELECTION.

Sponsored By: Jon S. Eubanks (Republican), Kim Hammer (Republican)

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Stricter rules for counting petition signatures

County clerks cannot count a canvasser’s signatures, even in the initial count, without a truthful sworn statement filed with the clerk. It must certify compliance with applicable Arkansas constitutional rules and laws on canvassing, perjury, forgery, and signature fraud during the current election cycle. Clerks must also exclude signatures collected and witnessed by a canvasser when covered violations are more likely than not. Those violations must have occurred during the current election cycle.

New checks for Arkansas petition signers

Arkansas local-option petition signers must read the ballot title in the canvasser’s presence or hear the canvasser read it aloud. Canvassers must view a copy of the signer’s legally accepted photo identification and cannot take signatures without confirming identity. Before signing, canvassers must warn that petition fraud is a crime, verbally unless impossible; then a separate written notice is required. Knowingly accepting signatures without title review, or failing to give the fraud warning, is a Class A misdemeanor. A canvasser’s sworn claim that a signature is genuine and the signer is a legal voter is false without the required identity check.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Jon S. Eubanks

    Republican • House

  • Kim Hammer

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 89 • No: 29

House vote • 4/14/2025

House Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 3:28:59 PM

Yes: 71 • No: 20 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Senate Vote - Thursday, April 3, 2025 3:45:28 PM

Yes: 18 • No: 9

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB551 is now Act 764

    4/18/2025Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/15/2025Senate

  3. Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.

    4/15/2025Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/14/2025Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    4/14/2025Senate

  6. Returned to the Senate as passed.

    4/14/2025House

  7. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

    4/14/2025House

  8. Returned by the Committee Do Pass

    4/9/2025House

  9. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS- HOUSE

    4/3/2025House

  10. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    4/3/2025House

  11. Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.

    4/3/2025Senate

  12. Read the third time and passed.

    4/3/2025Senate

  13. Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

    4/1/2025Senate

  14. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE

    3/20/2025Senate

  15. Filed

    3/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • SB551 - Introduced

    3/20/2025

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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