Chapter 028

2012 -- H 7055 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 04/13/12

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS

          

     Introduced By: Representatives Carnevale, Hull, DaSilva, Messier, and Ruggiero

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2012

   

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

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

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

 

     17-11-1. Division of towns and representative district into voting districts. -- The

local board of any city or town may, on or before the sixtieth (60th) day preceding any election,

divide or redivide the city or town, or any representative district in the city or town, into voting

districts. The local board of each city or town shall determine voting districts by geographical

boundaries and by no other means. No voting district shall at any time comprise parts of two (2)

or more wards. It shall be the duty of the board to divide the city or town, representative district,

or ward, so that substantially not more than nineteen hundred (1900) three thousand (3,000) total

eligible registered voters shall be served by the same polling place; provided, that subject to the

approval of the state board, a local board may provide for serving more than nineteen hundred

(1900) voters in the same polling place where the effect to the contrary would be of however, that

any divisions conducted by the local board pursuant to this section shall not result in creating a

polling place serving less than one hundred fifty (150) five hundred (500) total eligible registered

voters, except when it is caused by legislative district boundaries. Upon the establishment and

approval of any polling place by the state board, changes to the polling place shall not be allowed

until the next redistricting by the general assembly, unless the polling place becomes unavailable

to the city or town, or no longer meets polling place minimum requirements as established by the

state board, then the city or town may take the appropriate action to replace the polling place.

     A polling place may be located either within or without the voting district for which it is

established; provided, that a polling place may be located outside the district only upon

unanimous determination of the local board and subject to the approval of the state board that a

suitable place is not available within the voting district. In making the calculation required by this

section, voters whose names are on the inactive list of voters shall not be included.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on May 1, 2012 and shall be applicable to the 2012

state and federal primary and general election.

     

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LC00154/SUB A/2

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