2019 -- S 0588 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC001279/SUB A

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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 - NOMINATION - DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY -

PRIMARY VOTES

     

     Introduced By: Senator Elizabeth A. Crowley

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Secretary of State)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-14-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-14 entitled

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"Nomination of Party and Independent Candidates" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-14-11. Checking and certification of nomination papers -- Challenge.

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     Each nomination paper for party and independent candidates shall be submitted before

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four o'clock (4:00) p.m. on the sixtieth (60th) day before the primary to the local board of the city

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or town where the signers appear to be voters or, in the case of special elections, on the twenty-

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eighth (28th) day before the primary. Nomination papers for independent presidential candidates

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and presidential candidates of political parties, other than those defined in § 17-1-2(9), shall be

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filed not later than sixty (60) days prior to the general election. Each local board shall

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immediately proceed to check signatures on each nomination paper filed with it against the voting

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list as last canvassed or published according to law. In the case of candidates for statewide office,

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the local boards shall certify the number of names appearing on the nomination papers that are in

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conformity with the requirements of § 17-14-8, and after considering any challenge under this

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section, shall immediately file all nomination papers for the officers with the secretary of state. In

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the case of all other candidates, the The local boards shall certify a sufficient number of names

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appearing on the nomination papers that are in conformity with the requirements of § 17-14-8 to

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qualify the candidate for a position on the ballot, and after considering any challenge under this

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section and, if necessary, certifying any additional valid names, shall immediately file nomination

 

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papers for statewide office, general assembly and state and district committee candidates with the

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secretary of state; provided, that nomination papers for local candidates shall be retained by the

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local board. If any candidate or the chairperson of any party committee questions the validity or

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authenticity of any signature on the nomination paper, the local board shall immediately and

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summarily decide the question, and for this purpose, shall have the same powers as are conferred

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upon the board by the provisions of § 17-14-14. If any challenged signature is found to be invalid,

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for any reason in law, or forged, then the signature shall not be counted.

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     SECTION 2. Section 17-15-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary

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Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-15-1. Date of primaries.

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     A primary election for the nomination of candidates for each political party shall be held

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in each voting district in the manner provided in this chapter on the second Tuesday after the first

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Monday in September in each even numbered year eighth Tuesday preceding biennial state

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elections.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - NOMINATION - DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY -

PRIMARY VOTES

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     This act would move the date of primaries to the eighth Tuesday preceding biennial state

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elections.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2020.

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