Title 17
Elections

Chapter 5
Statewide Referenda Elections

§ 17-5-5. Language contained on computer ballots.

(a) Notwithstanding the authority of the secretary of state to determine the design and content of the computer ballots by rules and regulations, all computer ballots shall contain a clear and concise statement of the nature of each question stated in plain language reasonably calculated to be understood by persons with an eighth-grade reading level, presented without the necessity of repeating the full text of the question as adopted by the general assembly; provided, that in the case of proposed amendments to the Constitution of the state of Rhode Island, the full text as adopted by the general assembly shall be reprinted on the computer ballots. The secretary of state shall cause each question appearing on the computer ballot prepared by the secretary to be designated by number, the first question to be designated by the number I, and additional questions shall be submitted with numbers in consecutive order.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the general election to be held on November 2, 2004, in order to avoid a two-sheet statewide ballot, given the number of public questions to be submitted to the electors at such general election, the secretary of state may prepare the ballot in such manner that the statewide public questions involving the issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness, or other long-term financial obligation, shall appear on the ballot with only a caption and the amount of financial obligation to be incurred, but without the clear and concise statement of each question, as otherwise required. Provided, however, that such clear and concise statement of such question shall instead appear in a conspicuous location within each privacy voting booth at each polling place with additional copies thereof available at each polling place; and for mail ballot voters, each such ballot sent to a mail ballot voter shall be accompanied by a clear and concise statement of each question printed on a separate sheet of paper.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the general election to be held on November 4, 2014, in order to avoid a multiple-page statewide ballot, given the number of public questions to be submitted to the electors at such general election, the secretary of state may prepare the ballot in such manner that the statewide public questions involving the issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness, or other long-term financial obligation, shall appear on the ballot with only a caption and the amount of financial obligation to be incurred, but without the clear and concise statement of each question, as otherwise required; provided, however, that such clear and concise statement of such question shall instead appear in a conspicuous location within each privacy voting booth at each polling place with additional copies thereof available at each polling place; and for mail ballot voters, each such ballot sent to a mail ballot voter shall be accompanied by a clear and concise statement of each question printed on a separate sheet of paper.