2022 -- H 7748

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LC003986

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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 - PARTY COMMITTEES AND CONVENTIONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Perez, Hull, Ranglin-Vassell, Morales, Biah,
Batista, Kislak, J Lombardi, and Slater

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-12-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-12 entitled "Party

Committees and Conventions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-12-11. Endorsement by local committees.

     (a)(1) Each town, ward, and city committee shall file with the appropriate local board the

list of candidates in the town, ward, or city which have the endorsement of the committees.

     (2) Endorsements by town, ward, and city committees shall be signed by three (3) officers

of the committee.

     (b)(1) Each district committee shall file with the board of canvassers of the city or town of

residence of the senatorial or representative candidate endorsed, except that if the candidate is a

resident of Providence the endorsement shall be filed with the secretary of state, the list of

candidates in the district which have the endorsement of the committee.

     (2) Endorsements by district committees shall be signed by a majority of those members

presently on the committee.

     (c) Endorsements shall be filed with the appropriate local board or the secretary of state,

as the case may be, not later than four o'clock (4:00) p.m. of the day after the last day for filing

declarations of candidacy.

     SECTION 2. Section 17-14-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-14 entitled "Nomination

of Party and Independent Candidates" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-14-4. Preparation of nomination papers for candidates -- Combination of endorsed

candidates -- Furnishing of nomination papers to candidates.

     (a) Upon receipt of the declarations referred to in § 17-14-1, within two (2) business days

of the final date for filing endorsements, the secretary of state for statewide candidates and the local

board for general assembly and local candidates shall prepare nomination papers for each person

who has filed a declaration of candidacy as provided in § 17-14-1. A minimum of three (3) sets of

nomination papers shall be prepared for each candidate whose name appears on nomination papers

containing the name of a candidate for general assembly and for local office. Nomination papers

for voters from the city of Providence for the offices enumerated in § 17-14-1 shall be furnished by

the secretary of state. Nomination papers shall be prepared with the name of the candidate as it

appears on the voting list, notwithstanding that the candidate may have signed his or her declaration

of candidacy other than as the candidate's name appears on the voting list. Candidates for

nomination for different offices endorsed by the appropriate committee on any party shall be

combined on the same nomination papers. The names of candidates for different offices not

endorsed by the appropriate committee of any party shall not be combined on the same nomination

papers. Nomination papers for candidates for general assembly shall be furnished by the local board

of the general assembly candidate. Nomination papers shall be furnished to the local boards by the

secretary of state and each shall bear the imprint of the state coat of arms and any additional

language required by law. Nomination papers shall be appropriately marked or color coded to

indicate the different political parties, the endorsed and unendorsed candidates of those parties, and

independent candidates.

     (b) General assembly and local candidates for nomination may, at their own expense, have

nomination papers duplicated. The signatures obtained on the duplicated nomination papers shall

be considered valid if, and only if, prior to any signatures being affixed, the duplicated nomination

papers have been time stamped by the secretary of state or local board of canvassers which issued

the original nomination papers.

     (c) Nomination papers furnished by the secretary of state shall be personally issued to the

candidate, or in the case of combined nomination papers to one of the candidates, for whom they

were prepared, or to an individual presenting written authorization from the candidate, or one of

the candidates appearing on them, to receive the nomination papers.

     SECTION 3. 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 - PARTY COMMITTEES AND CONVENTIONS

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     This act would provide that for candidates for the general assembly, the filing of

endorsement papers of candidates by the Providence city committees, as well as the furnishing of

nomination papers for Providence voters, would be through the local board of canvassers rather

than the office of the secretary of state.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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