2025 -- H 5713

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LC002018

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Cortvriend, Potter, Kazarian, Kennedy,
Chippendale, Speakman, McEntee, Corvese, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-8-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-8 entitled "Local

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Canvassing Authorities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-8-2. Term and qualifications for office.

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     (a) Each member of a local canvassing authority shall be appointed to serve for a term of

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six (6) years beginning on the first Monday of March succeeding the date of his or her appointment

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and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. No person shall be appointed or serve as a

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member of the authority who is an officer or employee of the United States or of this state, or who

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is an officer or employee of the authority’s city or town; provided, that in any city a member of the

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authority may be employed as its clerk. Any member of the authority who becomes a candidate for

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election to any public office and who fails to file a declination of the candidacy within the time

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allowed by law shall be disqualified from holding membership upon the authority and his or her

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successor shall be immediately elected.

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     (b) No member of the authority may hold any partisan office including town/city party

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committees or representative/senate district committees. Any member who fails to file a declination

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of candidacy, within ten (10) days of declaring said candidacy, shall be subject to a five hundred

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dollar ($500) fine and immediate dismissal from the authority. This requirement shall apply to

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membership on partisan elected state committees, as outlined above, as well.

 

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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 -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITY

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     This act would prohibit members of elected city/town political party committees as well as

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representative/senate district committees from serving on local canvassing authorities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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