2013 -- S 0329

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LC01043

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Cote, Walaska, Kettle, and Ottiano

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-9.1-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-9.1 entitled

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"Registration of Voters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-9.1-24. Change of designation. -- (a) Any person who has designated his or her party

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affiliation pursuant to section 17-9.1-23 may change the designation on or before the ninetieth

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(90th) twenty-ninth (29th) day preceding any primary election for which the person is eligible.

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Whenever any person desires to change his or her party designation, that person shall appear

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before the local board of the city or town in which that person has his or her residence as defined

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in section 17-1-3.1, or before the clerk or other authorized agent of the board, and shall change

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his or her party designation and, after the information has been recorded on the form furnished for

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that purpose, the person shall sign his or her name and certify to the truth of the facts recorded in

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the appropriate spaces in the form; or the person shall furnish an affidavit properly executed and

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signed by him or her to the board directing the board to change the party designation. Whenever

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any person is unable to sign his or her name because of physical incapacity or otherwise, that

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person shall make his or her mark "(X)", which shall be witnessed by the person receiving the

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registration. For the convenience of persons voting at a primary election, affidavits for changing

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party designation shall be available at all primary polling places. The presence of the affidavits at

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the primary polling place shall not be construed to allow a person to change his or her party

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designation within ninety (90) twenty-nine (29) days preceding the primary election.

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      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, affidavits for

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changing party designation which are executed by voters at polling places immediately after

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voting in primary elections conducted in the city of Warwick in January, 2000, shall take effect

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immediately.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01043

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

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     This act would reduce the waiting period required for disaffiliation with a political party

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from 90 days to 29 days.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01043

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