2019 -- S 0326

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LC000658

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - PRIMARIES

     Introduced By: Senators Bell, Nesselbush, Valverde, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-15-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary

Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-15-8. Listing of candidates on ballots.

     The secretary of state shall immediately, upon receipt of the certificates provided for by

chapter 14 of this title, cause the proper ballots to be prepared for use in the various voting

districts. Names of party candidates for a particular office shall be printed vertically below the

names of the office they seek and shall not appear on the ballot more than once for the same

office; provided, the names of candidates having the endorsement of their party committees shall

be printed first below the title of the offices they seek and shall be marked with an asterisk (*). As

to each candidate, following the endorsed party candidate, for a national office, a general office

within the state, or for a general assembly office, the names shall be listed in an order chosen by

lot under the direction of the secretary of state. As to each candidate, following the endorsed party

candidate, for a city, town, or other local election, the names shall be listed alphabetically after

the name of the endorsed party candidate. In the event that there are more candidates for a

particular office than the voting machine can accommodate in the vertical column, the names

shall be continued in the same manner in the next succeeding vertical column. Names of

candidates shall be printed upon the ballots as the names appear on the voting list,

notwithstanding that the candidate may have signed his or her declaration of candidacy other than

as the candidate's name appears on the voting list.

     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 - PRIMARIES

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     This act would require that on all primaries, the candidate's names would be listed in an

order chosen by lot under the direction of the secretary of state.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000658

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