2012 -- H 7089

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LC00359

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- POLITICAL PARTY DESIGNATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Brien, Marcello, O`Neill, Baldelli-Hunt, and Lally

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2012

     Referred To: House Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-9.1-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-9.1 entitled

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"Registration of Voters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-9.1-24. Change of designation. -- (a) Any person who has designated his or her party

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affiliation pursuant to section 17-9.1-23 may change the designation at any time and shall be

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immediately effective on or before the ninetieth (90th) day preceding any primary election for

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which the person is eligible. Whenever any person desires to change his or her party designation,

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that person shall appear before the local board of the city or town in which that person has his or

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her residence, as defined in section 17-1-3.1, or before the clerk or other duly authorized agent of

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the board, and shall change his or her party designation and, after the information has been

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recorded on the form furnished for that purpose, the person shall sign his or her name and certify

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to the truth of the facts recorded in the appropriate spaces in the form; or the person shall furnish

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an affidavit properly executed and signed by him or her to the board directing the board to change

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the party designation. Whenever any person is unable to sign his or her name because of physical

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incapacity or otherwise, that person shall make his or her mark "(X)", which shall be witnessed

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by the person receiving the registration. For the convenience of persons voting at a primary

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election, affidavits for changing party designation shall be available at all primary polling places.

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The presence of the affidavits at the primary polling place shall not be construed to allow a

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person to change his or her party designation within ninety (90) days preceding the primary

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election.

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      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, affidavits for

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changing party designation which are executed by voters at polling places immediately after

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voting in primary elections conducted in the city of Warwick in January, 2000, shall take effect

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immediately.

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      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, affidavits for

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changing party designation which are executed by voters at polling places immediately after

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voting in primary elections conducted in senate district 20 comprising parts of the city of

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Woonsocket and town of Cumberland in March, 2008, shall take effect immediately.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00359

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- POLITICAL PARTY DESIGNATION

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     This act would enable political party designation changes to be effective immediately by

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eliminating the ninety (90) day waiting period.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00359

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