SB209 grants politicians unprecedented authority to discard petition signatures. Specifically, if any single canvasser is accused of wrongdoing, the Secretary of State is empowered to invalidate all signatures collected by that individual, potentially silencing thousands of voters.
The ACLU of Arkansas strongly opposes SB209 because:
- It undermines democratic participation. Allowing the invalidation of vast numbers of signatures based on the actions of a single individual could disenfranchise voters and suppress civic engagement.
- It gives excessive power to politicians. This bill places too much authority in the hands of political figures, allowing them to potentially manipulate and interfere with legitimate democratic processes.
- It jeopardizes fair electoral processes. By threatening the validity of petition signatures, SB209 could deter citizens from participating in the petitioning process, a fundamental component of our democracy.
Arkansas should be working to encourage voter engagement and protect the integrity of its electoral processes — not enabling political gatekeeping that threatens democratic participation. The ACLU of Arkansas stands against SB209 and any effort that could silence the voices of the electorate.
