Chapter 202
2019 -- H 5764 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 07/15/2019

A N   A C T
RELATING TO ELECTION - NOMINATION - DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY - PRIMARY VOTES

Introduced By: Representatives Alzate, Casimiro, Kazarian, Mendez, and Cassar
Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 17-14-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-14 entitled
"Nomination of Party and Independent Candidates" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     17-14-11. Checking and certification of nomination papers -- Challenge.
     Each nomination paper for party and independent candidates shall be submitted before
four o'clock (4:00) p.m. on the sixtieth (60th) day before the primary to the local board of the city
or town where the signers appear to be voters or, in the case of special elections, on the twenty-
eighth (28th) day before the primary. Nomination papers for independent presidential candidates
and presidential candidates of political parties, other than those defined in § 17-1-2(9), shall be
filed not later than sixty (60) days prior to the general election. Each local board shall
immediately proceed to check signatures on each nomination paper filed with it against the voting
list as last canvassed or published according to law. In the case of candidates for statewide office,
the local boards shall certify the number of names appearing on the nomination papers that are in
conformity with the requirements of § 17-14-8, and after considering any challenge under this
section, shall immediately file all nomination papers for the officers with the secretary of state. In
the case of all other candidates, the The local boards shall certify a sufficient number of names
appearing on the nomination papers that are in conformity with the requirements of § 17-14-8 to
qualify the candidate for a position on the ballot, and after considering any challenge under this
section and, if necessary, certifying any additional valid names, shall immediately file nomination
papers for statewide office, general assembly, and state and district committee candidates with the
secretary of state; provided, that nomination papers for local candidates shall be retained by the
local board. If any candidate or the chairperson of any party committee questions the validity or
authenticity of any signature on the nomination paper, the local board shall immediately and
summarily decide the question, and for this purpose, shall have the same powers as are conferred
upon the board by the provisions of § 17-14-14. If any challenged signature is found to be invalid,
for any reason in law, or forged, then the signature shall not be counted.
     SECTION 2. Section 17-15-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary
Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     17-15-1. Date of primaries.
     A primary election for the nomination of candidates for each political party shall be held
in each voting district in the manner provided in this chapter on the second Tuesday after the first
Monday in September in each even numbered year eighth Tuesday preceding biennial state
elections.
     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2020.
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LC001544/SUB A
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