Section 7-9-109 - Form of verification - Penalty for false statement(a) Each petition containing signatures shall be verified in substantially the following form by the canvasser's affidavit thereon as a part thereof: Click here to view form.
(b) Forms herein given are not mandatory, and if substantially followed in any petition it shall be sufficient, disregarding clerical and merely technical errors.(c)(1) Petitions shall not be disqualified due to clerical or technical errors made by a clerk, notary, judge, or justice of the peace when verifying the canvasser's signature.(2) Petitions shall not be disqualified for failure of a clerk, notary, judge, or justice of the peace to sign exactly as his or her name appears on his or her seal if the signature of a clerk, notary, judge, or justice of the peace is sufficient to verify his or her name.(d) A canvasser who knowingly makes a false statement on a petition verification form required by this section shall be deemed guilty of a Class D felony.(e) A canvasser who witnesses signatures on a petition part but knowingly allows another canvasser who did not witness all signatures on a petition part to execute a false verification affidavit with respect to that petition part commits a Class D felony.(f) A sponsor, sponsor's agent, or representative commits a Class D felony if a sponsor, sponsor's agent, or representative:(1) Knowingly pays a canvasser for petitioner signatures on a petition part not personally witnessed by that paid canvasser; or(2) Knowingly submits to the Secretary of State a petition part where the verifying canvasser has not witnessed each signature on that petition part.Amended by Act 2021, No. 951,§ 2, eff. 4/27/2021.Amended by Act 2019, No. 376,§ 7, eff. 3/8/2019.Amended by Act 2013, No. 1413,§ 11, eff. 4/22/2013.Acts 1911 (Ex. Sess.), No. 2, § 8; C. & M. Dig., § 9769; Pope's Dig., § 13289; A.S.A. 1947, § 2-207; Acts 1989, No. 280, § 4; 1991, No. 42, § 3; 1991, No. 197, § 1; 1997, No. 646, § 6; 2005, No. 1817, § 1.