2016 -- S 2504

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LC004919

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- BALLOT ARRANGEMENT

     

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-19-9.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct

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of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-19-9.1. Ballot arrangement -- Independent candidates. -- In all state elections at

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which candidates for public office are to be elected, some of whom are candidates of a political

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party and some of whom are independent candidates as defined in ยง 17-1-2(4), all independent

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candidates for the same public office shall be listed on the ballot, in the vertical column below the

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title of the office they seek, following the listing of the political party candidates for the office

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and in an order chosen by lottery; provided, that any independent candidate shall be entitled to

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have appear on the ballot, in small print to the right his or her name, the name of any political

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principle, movement, or organization with which the candidate wishes to be identified. The name

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of the political principle, movement, or organization must be identified on the declaration of

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candidacy, must contain not more than three (3) words, and must not include, in whole or in part,

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the name of any political party. If any declaration of candidacy does not contain the name of any

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political principle, movement, or organization, the word "independent" will appear in small print

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to the right the name of the candidate on the ballot. Except as provided in this section, the powers

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and duties of the secretary of state with respect to the preparation of the ballots shall not be

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affected.

 

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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 -- BALLOT ARRANGEMENT

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     This act would remove the requirement that independent candidates for political office be

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listed in a vertical column on the ballot.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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