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:

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

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Referenda Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     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

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

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

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will appear in the voting booth.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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