Signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a misdemeanor offense for false statements by candidates.

Highlights:

• Classifies appointing, nominating, or otherwise attempting to gain a person’s public office out of consideration for the support that person might offer once in office as a misdemeanor (Sec. 1a). 

• Specifies that it is unlawful for a public servant to dedicate time during the usual office hours to support the campaign of any other candidate for public office (Sec. 1a).

• Classifies the circulation of petitions for signatures by public servants on duty as unlawful (Sec. 1a).

• Specifies that public servants may not coerce other public servants into devoting time or labor towards supporting the campaign of any candidate for public office (Sec. 1a).

• Classifies the use by a public servant of offices, spaces, or items of personal property furnished by public expense for campaigning purposes (Sec. 1a).

• Prohibits public servants from coercing public employees into making subscriptions or contributions for political purposes (Sec. 1a).

• Specifies that public employees may not be members of organizations that advocate the overthrow of the American constitutional government (Sec. 1a).

• Prohibits election officials acting in an official capacity from electioneering on election day, inside a building where voting is taking place, or within 100 feet of the primary exterior entrance used by voters to access a building used for voting (Sec. 8).

• Specifies that no person may swear falsely as to their qualifications to vote (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits any person from removing or destroying infrastructure used to enable voting (Sec. 12). 

• Specifies that no one may deliver a ballot to an elector who cannot read while telling that person that the names and initiatives on the ballot are different from what they are (Sec. 14).

• Prohibits anyone from opening a ballot before it is placed in the ballot box to determine who the voter voted for (Sec.15).

• Specifies that election officials shall not allow anyone not permitted to file an absentee ballot to cast a vote without arriving in person to the voting site (Sec. 17).

• Prohibits any person from voting more than once in the state (Sec. 18).

• Specifies that no person applying to be placed on the ballot for an election will knowingly provide false information about their qualifications for office (Sec. 22).

Full Bill Text