2025 -- H 5384

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LC001185

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,

AND SUPPLIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, Knight, Ajello, McGaw, Stewart, Tanzi,
Shanley, Speakman, Furtado, and DeSimone

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-19-36 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct of

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Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-19-36. Tabulation of town returns — Certificate of election.

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     The local board shall meet on the day following the election and shall tabulate the town or

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city election returns, as the case may be, and announce the results, but shall issue no certificates of

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election until the time for petitions filed under this section has expired and, if a petition has been

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filed, until the petition has been finally determined. Any candidate at the election challenging the

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correctness of the declaration of result as applied to the candidate may, within seven (7) nine (9)

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days after the election, petition the state board to conduct a recount of the votes cast according to

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the provisions set forth in § 17-19-37.1. After the completion of the recount, and if it finds that the

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candidate was elected, it shall direct the local board to issue to the candidate a certificate of election,

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but if it finds that the candidate declared to be elected by the local board was in fact elected, it shall

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direct the board to issue a certificate of election to the candidate previously declared elected.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,

AND SUPPLIES

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     This act would increase from seven (7) days to nine (9) days the period of time in which a

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request for a recount of the votes cast can be made to the board of elections. No certificates of

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election may be issued, until the recount if any is completed.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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