2014 -- S 3103

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LC005901

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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 --STATEWIDE REFERENDA ELECTIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Ruggerio, Ciccone, Goodwin, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: June 12, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Secretary of State)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-5-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-5 entitled "Statewide

Referenda Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-5-5. Language contained on computer ballots. -- (a) Notwithstanding the authority

of the secretary of state to determine the design and content of the computer ballots by rules and

regulations, all computer ballots shall contain a clear and concise statement of the nature of each

question presented without the necessity of repeating the full text of the question as adopted by

the general assembly; provided, that in the case of proposed amendments to the Constitution of

the state of Rhode Island, the full text as adopted by the general assembly shall be reprinted on

the computer ballots. The secretary of state shall cause each question appearing on the computer

ballot prepared by the secretary to be designated by number, the first question to be designated by

the number I, and additional questions shall be submitted with numbers in consecutive order.

      (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the general election to be held on November 2,

2004, in order to avoid a two-sheet statewide ballot, given the number of public questions to be

submitted to the electors at such general election, the secretary of state may prepare the ballot in

such manner that the statewide public questions involving the issuance of bonds or other evidence

of indebtedness, or other long-term financial obligation, shall appear on the ballot with only a

caption and the amount of financial obligation to be incurred, but without the clear and concise

statement of each question, as otherwise required. Provided, however, that such clear and concise

statement of such question shall instead appear in a conspicuous location within each privacy

voting booth at each polling place with additional copies thereof available at each polling place;

and for mail ballot voters, each such ballot sent to a mail ballot voter shall be accompanied by a

clear and concise statement of each question printed on a separate sheet of paper.

     (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the general election to be held on November 4,

2014, in order to avoid a multiple page statewide ballot, given the number of public questions to

be submitted to the electors at such general election, the secretary of state may prepare the ballot

in such manner that the statewide public questions involving the issuance of bonds or other

evidence of indebtedness, or other long-term financial obligation, shall appear on the ballot with

only a caption and the amount of financial obligation to be incurred, but without the clear and

concise statement of each question, as otherwise required; provided, however, that such clear and

concise statement of such question shall instead appear in a conspicuous location within each

privacy voting booth at each polling place with additional copies thereof available at each polling

place; and for mail ballot voters, each such ballot sent to a mail ballot voter shall be accompanied

by a clear and concise statement of each question printed on a separate sheet of paper.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS --STATEWIDE REFERENDA ELECTIONS

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     This act would require for the November 4, 2014 election the secretary of state prepare

the ballot so that for statewide public questions or bonds or other indebtedness only the caption

and financial obligation be listed without a statement of the question but instead the statement

will appear in the voting booth.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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