SB207 would require individuals collecting signatures for ballot initiatives and referendum petitions to inform signers that petition fraud is a Class A misdemeanor before they sign.
The ACLU of Arkansas strongly opposes SB207 because:
- It creates unnecessary barriers to the ballot initiative process. Adding another disclosure requirement makes the signature collection process more cumbersome and discourages participation in direct democracy.
- It is designed to intimidate voters. Requiring a warning about petition fraud — a rare and already illegal offense — is an attempt to frighten potential signers and suppress civic engagement.
- It undermines Arkansas’ democratic values. Our state’s motto, Regnat Populus — "the people rule," reflects the right of Arkansans to shape their own laws. SB207 chips away at that right by making the initiative process more difficult.
The people of Arkansas — not politicians — should determine the laws that govern them. The ACLU of Arkansas stands against SB207 and any effort to restrict access to the ballot initiative process.
