2015 -- S 0388

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LC001551

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- POLL OPENING TIMES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Morgan, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-18-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-18 entitled "Elective

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Meetings" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-18-10. Time of opening of polls. -- (a) Elective meetings in the cities and towns

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named in this section shall be opened for the purpose of voting at the hours specified for each

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particular city or town as designated in the specific time as follows:

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(1) Barrington Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(2) Bristol Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(3) Burrillville Polls open at 7 a.m. for the biennial general election

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and 9 a.m. for all other elections

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(4) Central Falls Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(5) Charlestown Polls open at 7 a.m. for the biennial general election

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and 9 a.m. for all other elections

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(6) Coventry Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(7) Cranston Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(8) Cumberland Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(9) East Greenwich Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(10) East Providence Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(11) Exeter Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(12) Foster Polls open at 7 a.m.

 

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(13) Glocester Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(14) Hopkinton Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(15) Jamestown Polls open at 7 a.m. for the biennial general election

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and 8 a.m. for all other elections

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(16) Johnston Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(17) Lincoln Polls open at 7:00 a.m.

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(18) Little Compton Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(19) Middletown Polls open at 7 a.m. and 7 a.m. for Presidential Elections only

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(20) Narragansett Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(21) Newport Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(22) New Shoreham Polls open at 9 a.m.

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(23) North Kingstown Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(24) North Providence Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(25) North Smithfield Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(26) Pawtucket Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(27) Portsmouth Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(28) Providence Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(29) Richmond Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(30) Scituate Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(31) Smithfield Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(32) South Kingstown Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(33) Tiverton Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(34) Warren Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(35) Warwick Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(36) Westerly Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(37) West Greenwich Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(38) West Warwick Polls open at 7 a.m.

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(39) Woonsocket Polls open at 7 a.m.

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     (b) In all special or primary elections in the towns of Hopkinton, Westerly, Richmond,

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and Little Compton, polls shall open at 9:00 a.m.

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      (c) In all presidential preference primaries in the town of New Shoreham, polls shall

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open at 12:00 p.m.

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     (d) In all primary elections in all cities and towns, polls may open at 7:00 a.m.

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     Notice shall be given and posted by the local board.

 

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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 -- POLL OPENING TIMES

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     This act would remove the exemption that the town of Richmond had received, which

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allowed its polls to open at 9 a.m., rather than 7 a.m., for special and primary elections.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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