LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas lawmakers are looking at increased penalties for submitting fraudulent signatures, more scrutiny of canvassers and other changes to the state's laws for qualifying measures for the ballot. The action comes after election officials earlier this year said thousands of signatures on petitions were invalid.
The House and Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee discussed potential changes to the law during a hearing Thursday, but did not issue recommendations for next year's session.
Legislators began looking at potential changes after supporters of three separate proposals were told that thousands of their signatures were invalid and were given additional time to circulate petitions.
Republican Sen. Jason Rapert of Conway co-sponsored the interim study and said he's considering proposing legislation next year aimed at deterring campaigns from knowingly submitting invalid signatures.
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