2014 -- H 8130

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LC005273

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - ELECTION OFFENSES

     Introduced By: Representative K. JosephShekarchi

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Board of Elections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-23-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-23 entitled "Election

Offenses" is hereby repealed.

     17-23-2. Signature of posters, fliers, and circulars. -- No person shall intentionally

write, print, post, or distribute, or cause to be written, printed, posted, or distributed, a circular,

flier, or poster designed or tending to injure or defeat any candidate for nomination or election to

any public office, by criticizing the candidate's personal character or political action, or designed

or tending to aid, injure, or defeat any question submitted to the voters, unless there appears upon

the circular, flier, or poster in a conspicuous place the name of the author and either the names of

the chairperson and secretary, or of two (2) officers, of the political or other organization issuing

the poster, flier, or circular, or of some voter who is responsible for it, with the voter's name and

residence, and the street and numbers, if any.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005273

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - ELECTION OFFENSES

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     This act would repeal the section of the general laws which provides disclosure

requirements pertaining to the author of certain political posters, fliers, and circulars, consistent

with the United States Supreme Court decision.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005273

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