2025 -- H 5713
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LC002018
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
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:
SECTION 1. Section 17-8-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-8 entitled "Local 1
Canvassing Authorities" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
17-8-2. Term and qualifications for office. 3
(a) Each member of a local canvassing authority shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4
six (6) years beginning on the first Monday of March succeeding the date of his or her appointment 5
and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. No person shall be appointed or serve as a 6
member of the authority who is an officer or employee of the United States or of this state, or who 7
is an officer or employee of the authority’s city or town; provided, that in any city a member of the 8
authority may be employed as its clerk. Any member of the authority who becomes a candidate for 9
election to any public office and who fails to file a declination of the candidacy within the time 10
allowed by law shall be disqualified from holding membership upon the authority and his or her 11
successor shall be immediately elected. 12
(b) No member of the authority may hold any partisan office including town/city party 13
committees or representative/senate district committees. Any member who fails to file a declination 14
of candidacy, within ten (10) days of declaring said candidacy, shall be subject to a five hundred 15
dollar ($500) fine and immediate dismissal from the authority. This requirement shall apply to 16
membership on partisan elected state committees, as outlined above, as well. 17
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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LC002018 - Page 3 of 3
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 1
representative/senate district committees from serving on local canvassing authorities. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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LC002018
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