Chapter 201

2019 -- H 5765 Enacted 07/15/2019

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - ELECTIVE MEETINGS

Introduced By: Representatives Jacquard, Noret, Edwards, Kennedy, and Bennett

Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 17-18-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-18 entitled "Elective

Meetings" is hereby amended to read as follows:

17-18-10. Time of opening of polls.

(a) Elective meetings in the cities and towns named in this section shall be opened for the

purpose of voting at the hours specified for each particular city or town as designated in the

specific time as follows:

(1) Barrington Polls open at 7 a.m.

(2) Bristol Polls open at 7 a.m.

(3) Burrillville Polls open at 7 a.m.

(4) Central Falls Polls open at 7 a.m.

(5) Charlestown Polls open at 7 a.m.

for the biennial general election

and 9 a.m. for all other elections

(6) Coventry Polls open at 7 a.m.

(7) Cranston Polls open at 7 a.m.

(8) Cumberland Polls open at 7 a.m.

(9) East Greenwich Polls open at 7 a.m.

(10) East Providence Polls open at 7 a.m.

(11) Exeter Polls open at 7 a.m.

(12) Foster Polls open at 7 a.m.

(13) Glocester Polls open at 7 a.m.

(14) Hopkinton Polls open at 7 a.m.

(15) Jamestown Polls open at 7 a.m.

for the biennial general election

and 8 a.m. for all other elections

(16) Johnston Polls open at 7 a.m.

(17) Lincoln Polls open at 7:00 a.m.

(18) Little Compton Polls open at 7 a.m.

(19) Middletown Polls open at 7 a.m.

and 7 a.m. for Presidential Elections only

(20) Narragansett Polls open at 7 a.m.

(21) Newport Polls open at 7 a.m.

(22) New Shoreham Polls open at 9 a.m.

(23) North Kingstown Polls open at 7 a.m.

(24) North Providence Polls open at 7 a.m.

(25) North Smithfield Polls open at 7 a.m.

(26) Pawtucket Polls open at 7 a.m.

(27) Portsmouth Polls open at 7 a.m.

(28) Providence Polls open at 7 a.m.

(29) Richmond Polls open at 7 a.m.

(30) Scituate Polls open at 7 a.m.

(31) Smithfield Polls open at 7 a.m.

(32) South Kingstown Polls open at 7 a.m.

(33) Tiverton Polls open at 7 a.m.

(34) Warren Polls open at 7 a.m.

(35) Warwick Polls open at 7 a.m.

(36) Westerly Polls open at 7 a.m.

(37) West Greenwich Polls open at 7 a.m.

(38) West Warwick Polls open at 7 a.m.

(39) Woonsocket Polls open at 7 a.m.

(b) In all special or primary elections in the towns of Hopkinton, Westerly, and Little

Compton, polls shall open at 9:00 a.m.

(c) In all presidential preference primaries in the town of New Shoreham, polls shall open

at 12:00 p.m.

(d) In all primary elections in all cities and towns, polls may open at 7:00 a.m. Notice

shall be given and posted by the local board.

SECTION 2. Section 17-20-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail

Ballots" is hereby amended to read as follows:

17-20-16. Time of casting vote.

Mail ballots may be cast in the manner provided by law on or before election day;

provided, that no mail ballot shall be counted unless it is received by the state board not later than

the time prescribed by § 17-18-11 for the closing of polling places on election day, except ballots

cast under the provisions of § 17-20-6.1, which shall be counted if received by the state board by

four o'clock p.m. (4:00) on the third day following a primary or four o'clock p.m. (4:00) on the

seventh day following an election.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001926

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