It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 17-9.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-9.1 entitled "Registration of Voters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

17-9.1-3. Periods when boards receive registrations. -- The local boards shall open their respective offices for the purpose of receiving registration of voters throughout the year during the regular business hours. Registration for any election shall close on the thirtieth day preceding an election; provided, however, that local boards shall not receive the registration on Sundays or legal holidays, and may receive the registrations during additional hours each day from the fortieth, to the thirtieth day before any election provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed as restricting the right of statewide or local registration agents or members of the general assembly to accept registrations of voters on any day. The acceptance of registrations at any other time shall not affect the validity of any election.

Notwithstanding any other sections of the general laws to the contrary, all local boards of canvassers shall remain open from eight-thirty (8:30) a.m., until four o'clock (4:00) p.m. on the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations to permit participation of the voters in the next succeeding election , notwithstanding that the last day may be a Saturday; provided, however, a local board may remain open on the last day which falls on a Saturday prior to a local or special election only from one o'clock (1:00) p.m. until four o'clock (4:00) p.m. {ADD In the event that the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then the local board may (i) designate one (1) publicly accessible location in the city or town at which voter registrations will be taken and (ii) designate the hours during which voter registration will be taken at that location, which hours shall include the hours from one o'clock (1:00) p.m. until four o'clock (4:00) p.m.; provided, however, that if a local board does designate a location other than its regular place of business or does designate hours other than eight-thirty o'clock (8:30) a.m. until four o'clock (4:00) p.m., it shall (i) publicly announce such designation(s) at least ten (10) days prior to the last day provided by law for the taking of voter registrations and (ii) advertise such designation(s) in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town at least twice prior to the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations. ADD}

SECTION 2. Sections 17-9.1-4 and 17-9.1-4.2 of Chapter 17-9.1 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Voters" are hereby repealed in their entirety.

17-9.1-4. Evening registration meetings -- Large cities and towns. -- The local boards in cities and towns of more than thirty thousand (30,000) population as determined by the last federal census shall between the first day of April and the thirty-first day of August in each even-numbered year, on such dates as they may severally designate, hold at least two (2) evening registration meetings of at least two (2) hours duration in each ward in the case of cities and in each voting district in the case of towns for the purpose of receiving registrations. The board shall advertise each meeting in one or more newspapers having general circulation in their respective cities or towns at least one day prior to each meeting.

17-9.1-4.2. Evening registration meetings -- Cities and towns. -- The local boards in cities and towns of thirty thousand (30,000) or less population as determined by the last federal census shall between the first day of April and the thirty-first day of August in each even-numbered year, on such dates as they may severally designate, hold a total of six (6) evening registration meetings of at least two (2) hours duration at their office for the purpose of receiving registrations. The board shall advertise each meeting in one or more newspapers having general circulation in their respective cities or towns at least one day prior to each meeting.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.