2023 -- H 6240

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LC002483

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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 Baginski, and Noret

     Date Introduced: March 30, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-11-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-11 entitled "Voting

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

     17-11-1.1. Combination of voting districts for special election.

     (a) The board of canvassers of any city or town at which there shall be submitted to the

voters a question or questions for their approval or rejection or at which officials will be elected,

shall have the authority to combine two (2) or more voting districts, when in its judgment the

combination is advisable,. and when combined shall be treated as a voting district, The local board

may by unanimous vote make such designation for any special election, but only upon the approval

of the board of elections.

     (b) If voting districts are combined as provided in subsection (a), the local board must

advertise the combination of districts in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town no

less than seven (7) days and no more than twenty-one (21) days before the special election.

     (c) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 69, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 79, § 1.]

     (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), the board of canvassers of

the town of Bristol may combine two (2) or more voting districts for the representative district 68

special election in March, 2019, and when combined shall be treated as a voting district, but only

upon the approval of the board of elections.

     SECTION 2. Section 17-15-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary

Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-15-5. Combination of voting districts.

     Local boards shall have the power to combine two (2) or more voting districts within the

same ward, and senatorial or representative district and the combined district shall be treated as a

voting district, if applicable. The local board may by unanimous vote make such designation for

any special primary, or presidential preference primary, but only upon the approval of the board of

elections.

     SECTION 3. 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 require a unanimous vote of the local board of canvassers for the

combination of voting districts for any special election and would require a unanimous vote of the

local board of canvassers for the combination of voting districts for any special election or

presidential preference primary.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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