SECTION 1. Section 17-11-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-11 entitled "Voting Districts and Officials" is hereby amended to read as follows:

17-11-7. District moderators and clerks regularly appointed by board. -- In the towns of Barrington, Bristol, Middletown, Portsmouth, Warren, Westerly, and West Warwick, and Johnston, at least ten (10) days prior to every election, there shall be appointed by the local boards, respectively, a moderator and a clerk for each polling place, one of whom shall be a democrat and one a republican, and who shall be party voters in the district for which they are appointed.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on December 1, 2002.