§ 7-7-205 - Petition requirements for new political parties. - Arkansas Statutes

7-7-205. Petition requirements for new political parties.

(a) (1) A group desiring to form a new political party shall do so by filing a petition with the Secretary of State.

(2) The petition shall contain at the time of filing the signatures of at least ten thousand (10,000) registered voters in the state.

(3) The Secretary of State shall not accept for filing any new party petition that is not prima facie sufficient at the time of filing.

(4) The petitions shall be circulated during any ninety-day period.

(b) The petition shall declare the intent of organizing a political party, the name of which shall be stated in the declaration, and of participating in the next general election. No political party or group shall assume a name or designation that is so familiar, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, as to confuse or mislead the voters at an election.

(c) The Secretary of State shall determine the sufficiency of the signatures submitted within thirty (30) days of filing.

(d) If the petition is determined to be insufficient, the Secretary of State shall forthwith notify the sponsors in writing, through their designated agent, and shall set forth his or her reasons for so finding.

(e) (1) Upon certification of sufficiency by the Secretary of State, a new political party shall be declared by the Secretary of State.

(2) A new political party formed by the petition process may nominate candidates by convention for the first election after certification.

(3) Nominated candidates shall file a political practice pledge with the Secretary of State or county clerk, as the case may be, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the general election.

(4) If the new party maintains party status by obtaining three percent (3%) of the total vote cast for the office of Governor or nominees for presidential electors at the first election after certification, the new political party shall nominate candidates in the party primary as set forth in 7-7-101 et seq.

(f) Any challenges to the certification of the Secretary of State shall be filed with the Pulaski County Circuit Court.