2023 -- H 5611
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LC001340
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDEN T
CANDIDATES
Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, and Cardillo
Date Introduced: February 15, 2023
Referred To: House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 17-14-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-14 entitled "Nomination 1
of Party and Independent Candidates" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
17-14-7. Number of signers required for nomination papers. 3
(a) United States senator or governor. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party 4
nomination or an independent candidate for presidential elector, United States senator, or governor 5
shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least one thousand (1,000) voters. Notwithstanding the 6
foregoing, for the 2020 election only, the nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination 7
or an independent candidate for United States senator shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least 8
five hundred (500) voters. 9
(b) Representative in Congress. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party 10
nomination or an independent candidate for representative in Congress shall be signed, in the 11
aggregate, by at least five hundred (500) voters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the 2020 12
election only, the nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or an independent 13
candidate for representative in Congress shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least two hundred 14
fifty (250) voters. 15
(c) General state offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or 16
an independent candidate for any of the general offices of the state, excluding governor, shall be 17
signed, in the aggregate, by at least five hundred (500) voters. 18
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(d) State senator. The nomination papers of a candidate for a party nomination or 1
independent candidate for senator in any senatorial district shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at 2
least one hundred (100) voters of the senatorial district. 3
(e) State representative. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination or an 4
independent candidate for a member of the house of representatives from any representative district 5
shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least fifty (50) voters of the representative district. 6
(f) City offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination or an 7
independent candidate for any local office to be filled by the voters of any city at large shall be 8
signed, in the aggregate, by at least two hundred (200) voters of the city, provided that in the city 9
of Newport, for at-large candidates or candidates for school committee, at least one hundred (100) 10
signatures shall be required; provided, further, that in the city of Woonsocket, for candidates for 11
citywide nonpartisan office, including city council, mayor, and candidates for school committee, if 12
elected, at least one hundred (100) signatures shall be required; and provided, further that in the 13
city of Providence, at least five hundred (500) signatures shall be required. 14
(g) Voting district moderator or clerk. The nomination papers for a candidate for voting 15
district moderator or clerk in any town shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least ten (10) voters 16
of the voting district. 17
(h) Other offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination for other 18
offices covered by § 17-15-7, or for the election of delegates or for unendorsed party committee 19
candidates, shall be signed, in the aggregate, by fifty (50) voters. 20
(i) In the event only one voter files a valid declaration of candidacy for a particular elected 21
office, in accordance with § 17-14-1, no nominating signatures shall be required to be filed for that 22
unopposed candidate. 23
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024. 24
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATES
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This act would remove the requirement that unopposed candidates who file valid 1
declarations of candidacy need to file nominating signatures for certification. 2
This act would take effect on January 1, 2024. 3
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