2023 -- H 5383

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LC000827

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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 -- VOTING DISTRICTS AND OFFICIALS

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Baginski, Shanley, and Fenton-Fung

     Date Introduced: February 03, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Districts and Officials" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-11-1. Division of towns and representative district into voting districts.

     The local board of any city or town may, on or before the sixtieth (60th) day preceding any

election, divide or redivide the city or town, or any representative district in the city or town, into

voting districts. The local board of each city or town shall determine voting districts by

geographical boundaries and by no other means. No voting district shall at any time comprise parts

of two (2) or more wards. It shall be the duty of the board to divide the city or town, representative

district, or ward, so that substantially not more than three thousand (3000) total active, eligible

registered voters shall be served by the same polling place; provided, however, that any divisions

conducted by the local board pursuant to this section shall not result in creating a polling place

serving less than five hundred (500) total eligible registered voters, except when a polling place is

located in a low-income or elderly residential development, or when it is caused by legislative

district boundaries; and provided, further, that no existing polling place which is presently located

in a low-income or elderly residential development shall be eliminated. Upon the establishment

and approval of any polling place by the state board, changes to the polling place shall not be

allowed until the next redistricting by the general assembly, unless the polling place becomes

unavailable to the city or town, or no longer meets polling place minimum requirements as

established by the state board, then the city or town may take the appropriate action to replace the

polling place. A polling place may be located either within or without the voting district for which

it is established; provided, that a polling place may be located outside the district only upon

unanimous determination of the local board and subject to the approval of the state board that a

suitable place is not available within the voting district.

     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 -- VOTING DISTRICTS AND OFFICIALS

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     This act would clarify that the calculation for the total number of eligible voters to be served

by the same polling place shall be established using active voters.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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