Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes regulations for recall elections.

Highlights:

• Requires, for the submission of an application for a recall petition, that the person filing the application submit to the filing officer a separate electronic copy of the general statement in the format prescribed by the filing officer, at the same time and place as submitting the application for the petition (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that signatures obtained on recall petitions through which the circulator did not state whether they were paid or volunteered by checking the appropriate line on the petition form, are void and will not be counted in determining the legal sufficiency of the petition (Sec. 4).

• Requires those signing a recall petition to provide their address and or residence location alongside their signature (Sec. 4).

• Requires the petition circulator to swear before a notary public on an affidavit form appearing on the back of the sheet in order to validate the collected signatures (Sec. 4).

• Requires all circulators who are not residents of the state and all paid circulators to register as circulators with the secretary of state before circulating petitions (Sec. 7).

• Requires the secretary of state to register and assign a circulator registration number to the circulator within 5 business days following submission and review of a complete and correct circulator registration application (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits a person from registering as a circulator if the person (Sec. 7):

• Has had a civil or criminal penalty imposed for a violation of Title 16 or this title within the preceding 5 years;

• Has been convicted of treason or a felony and has been restored to civil rights; or

• Has been convicted of any criminal offense involving fraud, forgery, or identity theft.

• Requires a registered circulator served with a subpoena, to provide evidence in an action regarding the circulation of petitions for the signatures to be deemed valid (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes any person to challenge the lawful registration of circulators in the superior court of the county in which the circulator is registered, no later than ten business days following the date on which the filing officer has received, processed, and made available all final petition sheets individually numbered (Sec. 7).

• Classifies the omittance or misrepresentation of information or the provision of false information on a circulator registration application, or a registration violation as a class 1 misdemeanor (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes a person who has signed a recall petition to withdraw their signature no later than 5:00 P.M. on the date the petition containing their signature is actually submitted for verification (Sec. 7).

• Classifies the signing of a statement of signature withdrawal in exchange for money or any other thing of value, as a class 1 misdemeanor (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that a person who engages or participates in a pattern of recall petition signature fraud is guilty of a class 4 felony and will be prohibited from participating for 5 years in any election, initiative, referendum, or recall campaign (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text