Opinion ID: 6109968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: False Affidavits

Text: We first review the special master's findings that 4,371 signatures should be excluded because the canvassers attached false affidavits to the relevant petition parts. The special master noted that the relevant petition parts had the following affidavits attached: I did not have in mind at the time I executed my Affidavit, but am now informed, that under Arkansas law, my current residence address is the place  I am staying at the time I swear out my Affidavits, which may be a distinct location from my permanent address. The affidavits referred to in the statement above are the sworn signatures that the canvassers must provide on the individual petition parts. See Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-108 (b) (Repl. 2018). The sworn signature section also has a space for the canvasser to place his or her residence address on the petition. The special master noted that the canvassers had executed other documents, sworn statements, and signature cards demonstrating that they understood the difference between their domicile address and their current residence address. He concluded that the later affidavits stating they did not understand the law were false and that the failure to list their true current residence address on the petition renders those signatures invalid. In Arkansas, a canvasser is required to sign the petition parts and state that the canvasser's current residence address appearing on the verification is correct, that all signatures appearing on the petition part were made in the presence of the affiant, and that to the best of the affiant's knowledge and belief each signature is genuine and each person signing is a registered voter. Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-108 (b). The signatures in a petition shall not be counted if [t]he petition lacks the signature, printed name, and residence address of the canvasser. Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-126 (b)(2) (Repl. 2018). In Benca v. Martin , the petitioner challenged signatures obtained by the sponsor where the canvasser (1) listed a post office box as his residence address, (2) listed a business as the residence address, or (3) failed to include a residence address on the petition parts. 2016 Ark. 359 , at 11, 500 S.W.3d 742 , 749. We held that if a petition fails to meet the requirements of section 7-9-126, the petition shall not be counted. Benca , 2016 Ark. 359 , at 12, 500 S.W.3d at 750 ; Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-126 . We specifically noted that the term shall is mandatory and the clerical-error exception or substantial compliance cannot be used as a substitute for fulfillment with the statute. Benca , 2016 Ark. 359 , at 12-13, 500 S.W.3d at 750 . Here, the special master's findings are not clearly erroneous. The special master used Larry Bradshaw as an example and noted that the sponsor registered him with a Bentonville address with the secretary of state. However, on the petition parts he collected, Bradshaw signed an affidavit that his current resident address is in Florida. He executed documents that he understood Arkansas law. Bradshaw executed his sworn-canvasser statement on June 8, 2018, and listed Florida as his current residence. On that same date, the intervenor registered Bradshaw with the secretary of state using a Bentonville, Arkansas, current residence address. The two residential addresses are in direct conflict. Further, Bradshaw later executed a sworn affidavit that the affidavit on the petition parts he collected was false as to his current residence address. The special master's findings were therefore not clearly erroneous, and he correctly excluded 4,371 signatures.