2022 -- H 7423

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LC004526

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CANVASSING THE LISTS OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, Potter, and Fenton-Fung

     Date Introduced: February 09, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-10-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-10 entitled "Canvassing

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the Lists of Qualified Electors" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-10-5. Canvass and correction of preliminary lists.

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     (a) The local board shall, before the twentieth (20th) day preceding each election, meet and

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canvass the preliminary lists and hear objections to the inclusion or omission of any person as a

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registered voter, and it shall at that time make a final canvass and correction of the registration files.

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It shall give notice of the time and place of the meeting, for at least ten (10) days previous to it, by

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posting notices of the meeting in the same manner as required by this chapter for the posting of the

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preliminary list, and by publication once, at least ten (10) days previous to the meeting, in one or

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more newspapers having general circulation in on the official website maintained by the city or

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town. At or following the meeting, the local board shall strike from the lists and direct the

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cancellation of the registration of every person who is not qualified to vote at the election for which

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the final canvass is made, and shall immediately notify the secretary of state of that action. No

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registration shall be cancelled or a voter's right to vote be otherwise limited based upon a finding

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that the voter no longer resides within the city or town unless the voter has confirmed either in

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person or in writing that the voter no longer resides within the city or town or the board has received

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written evidence that the voter has registered to vote within another city or town or in another state.

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     (b) The local boards may meet and canvass the voting lists of any senatorial district,

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representative district or districts, ward or wards, or voting district or districts in any senatorial or

 

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representative district, ward, or voting district, or at their office or other previously designated

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place, at any other convenient time or times, on the same day or different days, not inconsistent

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with the provisions of this chapter.

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     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 -- CANVASSING THE LISTS OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS

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     This act would replace the requirement that the notice for the final canvass and correction

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of voter registration files be posted in a newspaper with the requirement that the notice for the final

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canvass to be published on the official website maintained by the city or town.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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