Opinion ID: 6109968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure to Submit Timely Canvasser Lists

Text: Next, we review the special master's findings that 3,088 signatures should be excluded because the intervenor failed to provide a list of paid canvassers to the secretary of state. A sponsor is required to provide a list of all paid canvassers' names and residential addresses to the secretary of state before signatures are collected by a paid canvasser. Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-601 (a)(C)(i). Additionally, the sponsor is required to update the secretary of state's records if additional canvassers are hired to collect signatures. Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-601 (a)(C)(ii). Colleen Huthmaker sent several emails to the secretary of state on June 12-14, 2018; however, the emails did not contain any attached canvasser lists. Another email was sent on June 15 with an attached list, but the attachment was password protected and could not be accessed by the secretary of state's office. A representative notified the sponsor that they could not access the canvasser lists, and a correct list was provided on June 18th, which they were able to access. The special master concluded that the sponsor did not meet the statutory requirements and that the signatures obtained during the applicable period should be excluded. The special master's finding is not clearly erroneous. It is undisputed that the sponsor is required to submit an updated list of paid canvassers to the secretary of state before they start collecting signatures. However, the intervenor argues that even if the first three canvasser lists were excluded, the email on June 15th should not be excluded because the email contained an attached canvasser list, and there is no dispute that it contained the required information. If we were to accept the intervenor's argument, a sponsor would satisfy the mandatory requirements of section 7-9-601 by sending a canvasser list that the secretary of state could not access or utilize. We decline to do so. Therefore, the special master correctly excluded 3,088 signatures.