Arkansas Statutes § 7-4-120 Complaints of election law violations - Definitions

Statute Text

(a)

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of this section, the State Board of Election Commissioners may investigate alleged violations, render findings, institute corrective actions, and impose sanctions according to this subchapter for violations of election and voter registration laws.

(2) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall not investigate alleged violations, render findings, or impose sanctions concerning violations of:

(A) The provisions of § 7-1-103 (a)(1) -(4), (6), and (7); or

(B) Campaign finance and disclosure laws for which the Arkansas Ethics Commission has the duty and authority to investigate and sanction under §§ 7-6-217 and 7-6-218 .

(b)

(1)

(A) A complaint shall be filed with the State Board of Election Commissioners in writing no earlier than the date established by law for the delivery or mailing of absentee ballots to a voter and no later than thirty (30) days following the deadline to certify an election by a county board of election commissioners of the following:

(i) An alleged violation of the laws regarding elections including without limitation:

(a) Voter registration;

(b) Requests for absentee ballots;

(d) Casting of ballots;

(e) Ballot tabulation;

(f) Certification of election results;

(g) Administration of an election;

(h) Election processes; or

(i) Conduct of an election; or

(ii) The election or elections affected or associated with the complaint.

(B) A complaint may be referred to the State Board of Election Commissioners by the Joint Performance Review Committee and is not subject to the thirty (30) day filing requirement under this subdivision (b)(1).

(C) The State Board of Election Commissioners may file a complaint within three (3) years following the alleged violation of an election law or voter registration law if the alleged violation:

(i) Relates to a felony criminal provision of election law;

(ii) Relates to a felony criminal provision of voter registration law; or

(iii) Affects the accuracy of a certified election result.

(2)

(A) A complaint shall be signed by the complainant under penalty of perjury.

(B) If a complaint is referred to the State Board of Election Commissioners by the Joint Performance Review Committee under subdivision (b)(1)(C) of this section, the Chair of the Joint Performance Review Committee shall be the complainant.

(3)

(A) A complaint shall clearly:

(i) Describe the alleged violation, including without limitation the supporting facts for the violation or incident;

(ii) State when or the approximate date that the alleged violation or incident occurred; and

(iii) State the location or locations of the alleged violation or incident.

(B)

(i) The complaint may specify, suggest, or recommend a desired resolution to the complaint.

(ii) If the complaint is timely filed but does not specify the desired resolution of the complainant:

(a) The State Board of Election Commissioners may:

(1) Notify the complainant that a desired resolution is not specified;

(2) Inform the complainant that other formal or informal resolutions may be appropriate; and

(3) Inform the complainant that the State Board of Election Commissioners may initiate a lawful resolution, correction, or remedy as the State Board of Election Commissioners deems appropriate; and

(b) The complainant may file the additional information within ten (10) days from mailing of the notice.

(4)

(A) If a complaint alleges a violation of election law or voter registration law but does not otherwise meet the requirements of this section, the complainant shall be notified that the complaint may be corrected by amendment in writing within ten (10) days and that a failure to make the necessary corrections shall result in the complaint's being dismissed.

(B) If a complaint is dismissed because it does not meet the requirements of this section, the State Board of Election Commissioners shall notify the complainant of the fact of dismissal.

(5) A person shall not file a frivolous complaint.

(6) If the complaint is referred to the State Board of Election Commissioners by the Joint Performance Review Committee, the complaint shall include:

(A) A report of the findings of the Joint Performance Review Committee, including any hearing testimony the Joint Performance Review Committee believes relevant; and

(B) The recommendations of the Joint Performance Review Committee that may be submitted to the State Board of Election Commissioners, including without limitation a recommendation:

(i) For a letter of reprimand to an election official;

(ii) For decertification as an election official in the next election cycle, including all associated primary and runoff elections;

(iii) That the State Board of Election Commissioners take over and conduct elections in the county in question if the violation or violations are considered severe by the Joint Performance Review Committee and would threaten a county's ability to conduct an equal, free, and impartial election, or the appearance of an equal, free, and impartial election; or

(iv) That state turnback funds be withheld from a county when the State Board of Election Commissioners conducts an election on behalf of a county and the county refuses to reimburse the State Board of Election Commissioners for expenses incurred.

(7)

(A) If a complaint is filed as required by this section, the State Board of Election Commissioners shall investigate the alleged violation and notify the Election Integrity Unit to enter the complaint into the Arkansas Election Integrity Database.

(B) If at the conclusion of the investigation, the State Board of Election Commissioners finds that there is probable cause to believe there has been a criminal violation of the voter registration laws or election laws, the State Board of Election Commissioners may forward the complaint to the prosecuting attorney for criminal prosecution.

(C) Immediately upon beginning an investigation under this section, the State Board of Election Commissioners shall notify the person or persons under investigation of the fact of the investigation and the nature of the investigation.

(D) If at the conclusion of the investigation, the State Board of Election Commissioners finds that there is probable cause to believe there has been a violation of the voter registration laws or election laws, and the complaint has not been referred to the prosecuting attorney, the State Board of Election Commissioners may set a public hearing.

(c)

(1) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall maintain a record of all inquiries, investigations, and proceedings.

(2) Except as provided in subdivisions (c)(3) and (4) of this section, records under this section are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq., until:

(A) A hearing by the State Board of Election Commissioners is set; or

(B) The investigation by the State Board of Election Commissioners is closed by the State Board of Election Commissioners.

(3) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall disclose, through its members or staff, otherwise confidential information to proper law enforcement officers, agencies, and other entities as is necessary to conduct the investigation under this section.

(4) The records of the investigation upon which the State Board of Election Commissioners has based its findings shall be opened to public inspection thirty (30) days after the final adjudication in which the State Board of Election Commissioners makes a final decision.

(d)

(1) If the State Board of Election Commissioners determines that the complaint can be addressed through documentary submissions and without a formal investigation, the State Board of Election Commissioners may address the complaint with documentary submissions.

(2) If the State Board of Election Commissioners determines that an investigation is necessary, the State Board of Election Commissioners shall provide to the person who is the subject of the complaint:

(A) A copy of the complaint if a copy has not previously been provided; and

(B) Instructions for filing a response.

(3) The State Board of Election Commissioners may:

(A) Administer oaths for the purpose of taking sworn statements from witnesses in the course of its investigations;

(B) Request the person who is the subject of the complaint to answer allegations in writing, produce relevant evidence, or appear in person before the State Board of Election Commissioners; and

(C)

(i) Subpoena any person or the books, records, or other documents relevant to the investigation or inquiry.

(ii) The subpoena may direct any law enforcement officer of the county concerned or the Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police to seize any public record that is withheld.

(4) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall:

(A) Provide the person subpoenaed with reasonable notice of the subpoena and an opportunity to respond; and

(B) Advise the complainant and the person who is the subject of the complaint in writing of the final action of the State Board of Election Commissioners.

(e) If the State Board of Election Commissioners finds a violation of the voter registration laws or election laws under its jurisdiction, the State Board of Election Commissioners may:

(1) Issue a public letter of caution, warning, reprimand, or a conditional warning of consequences that shall be imposed if corrective action is not completed;

(2) Impose a fine of no less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a negligent, knowing, or intentional violation;

(3) Report the information obtained in the investigation and the findings and determinations of the State Board of Election Commissioners to the appropriate law enforcement authorities;

(4) Make expenditures and order payment of the costs of the investigation and hearing;

(5) Decertify an election official from appointment as an election official;

(6) Issue an order that the State Board of Election Commissioners shall take over and conduct elections in the county in question if the violation is considered severe by the State Board of Election Commissioners and would threaten either a county's ability to conduct an equal, free, and impartial election, or the appearance of an equal, free, and impartial election; or

(7) Combine any two (2) or more of the actions or sanctions authorized under this section.

(f) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall advise the complainant and the person who is the subject of the complaint of the:

(1) Finding of the State Board of Election Commissioners;

(2) Final action taken and sanctions issued by the State Board of Election Commissioners against a person associated with the complaint and a response thereto; and

(3) Reasons for the findings, final actions, and sanctions.

(g) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall maintain a record of all inquiries, investigations, and proceedings.

(h)

(1) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall adopt rules concerning the imposition of fines under this section.

(2) If a person fails to pay the fines ordered by the State Board of Election Commissioners under this section, the State Board of Election Commissioners may obtain a judgment from a court for the amount of the fine imposed by filing suit in the:

(A) Pulaski County Circuit Court;

(B) Circuit court of the county in which the person resides; or

(3) The fee for filing of a suit in a circuit or district court in this state shall be waived for the State Board of Election Commissioners.

(4) All moneys received by the State Board of Election Commissioners in payment of fines shall be deposited into the State Treasury as general revenues.

(i)

(1) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall conclude its investigation and take its final action under this section within one hundred eighty (180) days of the filing of a complaint.

(2) The State Board of Election Commissioners shall announce its final action as a final administrative decision.

(3) However, if the State Board of Election Commissioners fails to take its final action within one hundred eighty (180) days, the final administrative action shall be effective within one hundred eighty (180) days of the filing of the complaint.

(4) If the State Board of Election Commissioners makes its offer of settlement and the offer is rejected under this section, the State Board of Election Commissioners may conduct a hearing and shall take final action under this section within two hundred forty (240) days.

(j) A final action of the State Board of Election Commissioners under this section is an adjudication for purposes of judicial review under § 25-15-212 .

(k) As used in this section:

(1) "Election laws" means the United States Constitution, the Arkansas Constitution, and the statutes, final court decisions of general applicability, and rules of the United States and the State of Arkansas concerning elections conducted by county boards of election commissioners and the rules promulgated by the State Board of Election Commissioners under § 7-4-101 concerning elections conducted by county boards of election commissioners;

(2) "Frivolous" means clearly lacking any basis in fact or law; and

(3) "Voter registration laws" means those laws under the United States Constitution, the Arkansas Constitution, and the statutes, final court decisions, and rules promulgated by the United States and the State of Arkansas concerning voter registration laws.

History

Amended by Act 2023 , No. 620 , § 3 , eff. 8/1/2023 .

Amended by Act 2023 , No. 544 , § 2 , eff. 8/1/2023 .

Amended by Act 2023 , No. 295 , § 3 , eff. 8/1/2023 .

Amended by Act 2023 , No. 295 , § 2 , eff. 8/1/2023 .

Amended by Act 2023 , No. 295 , § 1 , eff. 8/1/2023 .

Amended by Act 2021 , No. 974 , § 3 , eff. 7/28/2021 .

Amended by Act 2021 , No. 974 , § 4 , eff. 7/28/2021 .

Amended by Act 2021 , No. 756 , § 2 , eff. 7/28/2021 .

Amended by Act 2017 , No. 247 , § 1 , eff. 8/1/2017 .

Added by Act 2015 , No. 1253 , § 3 , eff. 7/22/2015 .

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Prior Versions of This Statute

Version of § 7-4-120 dated 10/30/2024