2023 -- H 6204 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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LC002648/SUB A

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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 -- PRIMARIES FOR ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO

NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND FOR PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Perez, Hull, Corvese, Fenton-Fung, Cardillo, Batista,

     Date Introduced: March 24, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 17-12.1-3 and 17-12.1-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-12.1

entitled "Primaries for Election of Delegates to National Conventions and for Presidential

Preference" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-12.1-3. Declaration of candidacy — Delegates.

     During the sixty-first (61st) seventieth (70th) and sixty-second (62nd) seventy-first (71st)

day preceding a primary for election of delegates to a national convention, each voter desiring to

be a delegate at the forthcoming convention shall, on the form that shall be provided by the secretary

of state, sign his or her name as it appears on the voting list and file, not later than four (4:00) p.m.

of the date of filing with the secretary of state, a declaration of candidacy which shall include the

following information:

     (1) His or her name and address as they appear on the voting list, party designation, place

and date of birth, and length of residence in the state and in the town or city where he or she resides.

     (2) A statement that, if elected, he or she would comply with all party rules of the national

committee of the party designated in subdivision (1) of this section relating to delegates to national

conventions and conducting of national conventions.

     (3) At the same time as the declaration of candidacy is filed, the appropriate pledge of

support form provided to the secretary of state by the political parties must be filed by the candidate

for delegate.

     (4) If any candidate for delegate does not thereafter wish his or her name to appear on the

ballot, the candidate shall, at least forty-nine (49) days prior to the date for the primary, file an

affidavit with the secretary of state stating his or her name may not be placed on the ballot and the

secretary of state shall not place that candidate’s name on the ballot.

     17-12.1-6. Number of signers required.

     The nomination papers of a candidate for delegate to a national convention shall be signed,

in the aggregate, by at least one hundred fifty (150) seventy-five (75) eligible voters.

     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 -- PRIMARIES FOR ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO

NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND FOR PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE

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     This act would reduce the number of voter signatures necessary for a candidate to qualify

to be a delegate to a national convention, from one hundred fifty (150) to seventy-five (75).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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