2023 -- H 5234

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LC000561

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDENT

CANDIDATES

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Alzate, Casimiro, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     (By request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-14-1.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-14 entitled "Nomination

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

     17-14-1.2. Candidate required to be a qualified voter in the election Candidate

required to be a qualified voter in the election - Residency requirement.

     (a)(1) No person shall be eligible to file a declaration of candidacy as an independent

candidate nor shall a person be eligible to be a candidate or be eligible to be voted for unless the

person shall, at the time of filing the declaration, be qualified to vote in the election within the

district for the office which that person seeks.

     (2) No person shall be eligible to file a declaration of candidacy as an independent

candidate nor shall a person be eligible to be a candidate or eligible to be voted for relating to the

state offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general or treasurer unless

the person shall, at the time of filing the declaration, be a resident of the State of Rhode Island for

five (5) years.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, individuals residing in state senate

districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 and 17 may file a declaration of candidacy for state senator

and/or senatorial district committee member for those senate districts for the 2004 election pursuant

to § 17-14-1, provided they were registered to vote in the election for that district on or before June

16, 2004.

     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 -- NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDENT

CANDIDATES

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     This act would require that a candidate for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor,

secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer be a resident of the state for a period of five (5)

years prior to the filing of a declaration of candidacy.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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