2023 -- S 0385

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LC001253

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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 -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

     Introduced By: Senators F. Lombardi, DiMario, Lawson, Britto, Ciccone, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-9.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-9.1 entitled "Registration

of Voters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-9.1-3. Periods when boards receive registrations.

     (a) The local boards shall open their respective offices for the purposes of receiving

registration of voters throughout the year during the regular business hours. Registration for any

election shall close on the thirtieth (30th) day preceding an election; provided, that local boards

shall not receive the registration on Sundays or legal holidays, and may receive the registrations

during additional hours each day from the fortieth (40th) to the thirtieth (30th) day before any

election. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as restricting the right of statewide or

local registration agents or members of the general assembly to accept registrations of voters on

any day. The acceptance of registrations at any other time shall not affect the validity of any

election.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other sections of the general laws to the contrary, all local boards

of canvassers shall remain open from eight-thirty (8:30) a.m. until four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on the

last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations to permit participation of the voters

in the next succeeding election. In the event that the last day prescribed by law for the taking of

voter registrations is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then the local board may;

     (1) Designate one publicly accessible location in the city or town at which voter

registrations will be taken; and

     (2) Designate the hours during which voter registration will be taken at that location, which

hours shall include the hours from one o’clock (1:00) p.m. until four o’clock (4:00) p.m.

     (c) If a local board does designate a location other than its regular place of business or does

designate hours other than eight-thirty o’clock (8:30) a.m. until four o’clock (4:00) p.m., it shall:

     (1) Publicly announce those designation(s) at least ten (10) days prior to the last day

provided by law for the taking of voter registrations; and

     (2) Advertise those designation(s) in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town

at least twice prior to the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations.

     (d) The local board may substitute advertising in a newspaper by posting notice of those

designations(s) on the municipality's website for at least ten (10) consecutive days leading up to

the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations.

     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 -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

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     This act permits the substitution of advertising the voter registration deadline in a

newspaper by posting notice of designations on the municipality's website, continuously, for at

least ten (10) days leading up to the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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