Chapter 023

2003 -- S 0920

Enacted 03/19/03

A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- COMBINATION OF DISTRICTS

Introduced By: Senator Leo R. Blais

Date Introduced: March 05, 2003

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-11-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-11 entitled "Voting

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

17-11-1.1. Combination of voting districts for special election. -- (a) The board of

canvassers of any city or town, for any special election to be held in a city or town at which there

will be submitted to the voters a question or questions for their approval or rejection but at which

no state or local officials will be elected, may combine two (2) or more voting districts within the

same ward or senatorial and representative district, when in its judgment the combination is

advisable, and when combined shall be treated as a voting district. Notwithstanding the

preceding sentence, for any special election at which there is only one candidate for each office

on the ballot for all offices to be filled at the election the board of canvassers of the city or town

may combine likewise two (2) or more voting districts, but only upon the approval of the board of

elections.

      (b) If voting districts are combined as provided in subsection (a), the local board must

advertise the combination of districts in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town no

less than seven (7) days and no more than twenty-one (21) days before the special election.

(c) The board of canvassers of the town of Coventry shall have the power to combine two

(2) or more voting districts within the same ward or senatorial and representative districts,

notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, for a special election to be held on April 22, 2003.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02678

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