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Arkansas legislators passed several laws that will change the public's interaction with citizen-initiated ballot issues. Some of these laws will also apply to canvassers, or the people who volunteer to collect voter signatures or are paid by a campaign to collect voter signatures to qualify a measure for the statewide ballot.
For the 2026 ballot, citizen-led ballot issue campaigns need at least 90,704 signatures from voters in at least 50 counties to qualify constitutional amendments for the statewide ballot and at least 72,563 voter signatures for state laws. Referendums on new state laws require at least 54,244 voter signatures.
What Passed at the Legislature
HB1713 (Act 602) - Act 602 prevents the Attorney General from certifying the ballot title of a citizen-initiated state law or constitutional amendment for signature gathering if the ballot title scores higher than an eighth grade reading level on the Flesch Kincaid Grade Level Formula. This law went into effect April 14 and does not apply to the one citizen-initiated ballot title certified before this date.
HB1221 (Act 153) - Act 153 creates an expiration date for voter signatures on ballot issue petitions, as well as expiration dates for ballot issue title certification. Voter signatures and ballot title certifications expire after the next general election. This law went into effect February 25. Previously, there was no expiration date and campaigns could collect signatures over several years.
SB102 (Act 115) - Act 115 requires sponsors of citizen-initiated campaigns in cities and counties to follow similar laws placed on statewide ballot issue campaigns, such as (1) obtaining background checks on paid canvassers, (2) submitting canvasser paperwork to county clerks, (3) requiring canvassers to be Arkansas residents, and (4) banning them from paying canvassers based on the number of voter signatures collected. People convicted of certain crimes can not collect voter signatures. Canvassers or sponsors violating this new law can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony depending on the section they violate, and any voter signatures they collect would not be counted. This law went into effect February 18.
SB207 (Act 218) - Act 218 requires canvassers to tell voters that petition fraud is a crime. The canvasser must say this before the voter signs a ballot issue petition. If a canvasser fails to do so, they may be charged with a misdemeanor. The voter's signature will not be counted. This law went into effect February 27.
SB208 (Act 240) - Act 240 requires voters to show photo identification before signing a ballot issue petition for a citizen-initiated proposed constitutional amendment, state law or referendum. Eligible photo identification includes (1) driver's license, (2) photo identification card, (3) a concealed handgun carry license, (4) a U.S. passport, (5) an employee badge or identification document issued by an accredited postsecondary educational institution in Arkansas, (6) a public assistance card if it shows the person's photograph, or (7) a voter verification card issued by a county clerk. If a canvasser allows a voter to sign a petition without seeing their photo ID, the canvasser can be charged with a felony and the voter's signature will not be counted. This law went into effect March 4.
SB209 (Act 273) - Act 273 prevents the Secretary of State from counting voter signatures on statewide petitions if they find by a preponderance of the evidence that the canvasser violated state laws regarding canvassing, perjury, forgery or used fraudulent practices in collecting signatures. This law went into effect March 12.
SB210 (Act 274) - Act 274 requires voters to read the ballot title of a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment or state law in front of canvassers before they can sign the petition to put the measure on the statewide ballot for voters to decide. Canvassers can also read the ballot title aloud to voters. If a canvasser allows a voter to sign a petition without the voter having read the ballot title, the canvasser can be charged with a misdemeanor and the voter's signature will not be counted. This law went into effect March 12.
SB211 (Act 241) - Act 241 requires canvassers to submit paperwork to the Secretary of State's Office certifying they have complied with the state constitution and laws regarding canvassing, perjury, forgery, and fraudulent practices in obtaining voter signatures on ballot issue petitions. The Secretary of State's Office cannot count voter signatures on petitions unless this paperwork has been filed. This paperwork is in addition to paperwork required for canvassers under Arkansas § 7-9-109. Once petitions are submitted to the Secretary of State's Office, canvassers can't collect more signatures until the Secretary of State determines the campaign has submitted enough valid voter signatures to qualify for a "cure period." A cure period is additional time to collect more signatures from voters to qualify a measure for the ballot. Act 241 went into effect March 4.
SB584 (Act 768) - Act 768 prevents a county clerk from counting voter signatures on local ballot issue petitions if they find by a preponderance of the evidence that the canvasser violated state laws regarding canvassing, perjury, forgery or used fraudulent practices in collecting signatures. The new law says a county clerk has 10 business days to review voter signatures and requires canvassers to submit paperwork with the county clerk testifying they followed state law. Once petitions are submitted to the county clerk, canvassers can't collect more signatures until the clerk verifies the campaign qualifies for additional time. Local campaigns must submit a list of all canvassers to the county clerk. Act 768 went into effect April 18.
What Failed at the Legislature
SB212 - This proposed law did not make it out of the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. The bill sought to create a law enforcement agency within the Secretary of State's Office to investigate the validity and truthfulness of documents submitted to the office.
SB569 - This proposed law failed in the House by a vote of 32-54. The bill sought to limit citizen-initiated ballot titles to 500 words and would have directed the Arkansas Supreme Court to overturn its decision in the 1951 Edgmon case as inconsistent with recent court opinions that urged plain reading of laws. The Edgmon decision is also at center of an appeal involving legislative changes to the state's medical marijuana amendment without voter approval. Follow the state's appeal (CV-24-704).
SB434 - This proposed law did not make it out of the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. The bill sought to increase the number of votes needed to pass citizen-initiated constitutional amendments and state laws by requiring a majority of registered voters to approve measures. Currently, amendments and state laws pass if a majority of voters casting ballots in the election approve a measure.
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