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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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five hundred (500) voters.

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

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

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

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

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

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fifty (250) voters.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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of the voting district.

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

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

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

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

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

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unopposed candidate.

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     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

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declarations of candidacy need to file nominating signatures for certification.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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