2017 -- S 0793 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - PRIMARY ELECTIONS

     Introduced By: Senator Erin P. Lynch Prata

     Date Introduced: April 25, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Board of Elections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-15-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary

Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-15-14. Qualifications of primary officials -- Affidavit.

     (a) Each warden or moderator and each primary supervisor appointed under the

provisions of §§ 17-15-13 and 17-15-16 shall be able to read the Constitution of the state in the

English language, and to write his or her name, and shall, whenever possible, be a voter of the

senatorial district, representative district, or town, ward, or voting district from which he or she is

appointed.

     (b) No person shall be appointed to serve as a primary official who has been convicted,

found guilty, pleaded guilty or nolo contendere, or placed on a deferred or suspended sentence or

on probation for any crime which involved moral turpitude or a violation of any of the election,

caucus, or primary laws of this or any other state.

     (c) No person shall be appointed to serve as a primary official who is an officer or

employee of the United States, of this state, or of any city or town of this state, but no person

shall be disqualified solely because that person is a notary public or a teacher. No person serving

as a primary official may serve in such capacity in the city or town in which they are a municipal

employee.

     (d) No person who is seeking nomination or election at any primary election shall act as a

primary official at that primary.

     (e) Every primary official shall make an affidavit before the proper local board or some

member of the board to the effect that that official is not disqualified by reason of the provisions

of this section.

     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 - PRIMARY ELECTIONS

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     This act would allow a person appointed as a primary official to be an employee of the

United States, of this state, or of any city or town of this state.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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