Chapter 187

2006 -- H 7530 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 06/29/06

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - VOTING

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Lewiss, Kennedy, Jackson, Crowley, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2006

 

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Sections 17-11-1.1 and 17-11-7.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-11

entitled "Voting Districts and Officials" are 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, for any special election to be held in that city or town at which

there will be submitted to the voters a question or questions for their approval or rejection but at

which no state or local officials will be elected, shall have the power to combine two (2) or more

voting districts within the same ward or senatorial and representative district, when in its

judgment the combination is advisable, and when these districts are combined they shall be

treated as a voting district. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions, for any special election at

which there is on the ballot for all offices to be filled at the election only one candidate for each

office, the board of canvassers of the city or town shall have the authority to combine likewise

two (2) or more voting districts, but only upon the approval of the board of elections. 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 but at which no state or local 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, but only upon

the approval of the board of elections.

      (b) If voting districts are combined as provided in subsection (a) of this section, 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) The board of canvassers of the town of Coventry shall have the power to combine

two (2) or more voting districts within the same ward or senatorial and representative districts,

notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, for a special election to be held on April 22, 2003.

 

     17-11-7.1. Pool of election officials. -- Notwithstanding any other general law to the

contrary, local boards are authorized to create a pool of election officials who shall be available to

fill vacancies wherever needed. These election officials shall have the same training and duties as

regular election officials, but shall not be restricted to being electors of the voting district to

which they may be assigned, but must be electors of the city or town state.

 

     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, when the absence of local contests within the combined voting districts makes this

combination possible, and the combined district shall be treated as a voting district.

 

     SECTION 3. Section 17-18-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-18 entitled "Elective

Meetings" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     17-18-15. Closing of schools. -- At each general election as defined in section 17-1-2(2)

and statewide primary as defined in section 17-15-1, all public elementary and secondary schools

throughout the state shall not be in session. On the day of the general election and statewide

primary, the use of school buildings or premises shall be restricted to use only as polling places

for election purposes. Notwithstanding the previous provisions, school staff development days

may be held.

 

     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC02222/SUB A

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