2023 -- H 5611

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LC001340

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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 Serpa, and Cardillo

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-14-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-14 entitled "Nomination

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

     17-14-7. Number of signers required for nomination papers.

     (a) United States senator or governor. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party

nomination or an independent candidate for presidential elector, United States senator, or governor

shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least one thousand (1,000) voters. Notwithstanding the

foregoing, for the 2020 election only, the nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination

or an independent candidate for United States senator shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least

five hundred (500) voters.

     (b) Representative in Congress. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party

nomination or an independent candidate for representative in Congress shall be signed, in the

aggregate, by at least five hundred (500) voters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the 2020

election only, the nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or an independent

candidate for representative in Congress shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least two hundred

fifty (250) voters.

     (c) General state offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or

an independent candidate for any of the general offices of the state, excluding governor, shall be

signed, in the aggregate, by at least five hundred (500) voters.

     (d) State senator. The nomination papers of a candidate for a party nomination or

independent candidate for senator in any senatorial district shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at

least one hundred (100) voters of the senatorial district.

     (e) State representative. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination or an

independent candidate for a member of the house of representatives from any representative district

shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least fifty (50) voters of the representative district.

     (f) City offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination or an

independent candidate for any local office to be filled by the voters of any city at large shall be

signed, in the aggregate, by at least two hundred (200) voters of the city, provided that in the city

of Newport, for at-large candidates or candidates for school committee, at least one hundred (100)

signatures shall be required; provided, further, that in the city of Woonsocket, for candidates for

citywide nonpartisan office, including city council, mayor, and candidates for school committee, if

elected, at least one hundred (100) signatures shall be required; and provided, further that in the

city of Providence, at least five hundred (500) signatures shall be required.

     (g) Voting district moderator or clerk. The nomination papers for a candidate for voting

district moderator or clerk in any town shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least ten (10) voters

of the voting district.

     (h) Other offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination for other

offices covered by § 17-15-7, or for the election of delegates or for unendorsed party committee

candidates, shall be signed, in the aggregate, by fifty (50) voters.

     (i) In the event only one voter files a valid declaration of candidacy for a particular elected

office, in accordance with § 17-14-1, no nominating signatures shall be required to be filed for that

unopposed candidate.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.

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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 remove the requirement that unopposed candidates who file valid

declarations of candidacy need to file nominating signatures for certification.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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