SB211

Senate Bill 211 amends Arkansas law regarding the initiative and referendum petition process. It mandates that canvassers must submit a sworn affidavit to the Secretary of State certifying their compliance with all state laws and constitutional requirements regarding the procurement of signatures before those signatures can be counted. The bill stipulates that signatures collected by a canvasser will not be valid for counting until this affidavit is filed, with a specific exception for cases involving the death or medical disability of the canvasser. Furthermore, it prohibits canvassers from collecting additional signatures once an affidavit has been filed, unless specific criteria for petition amendments are met. The act includes an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately upon approval, citing the need to ensure the integrity of the 2026 election cycle. It also clarifies that the submission of an affidavit does not legally verify the authenticity of the signatures themselves.