2025 -- S 0541
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LC001710
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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
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,
AND SUPPLIES
Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Kallman, Lawson, DiMario, Vargas, Pearson, Ujifusa,
and Acosta
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 17-19-36 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct of 1
Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
17-19-36. Tabulation of town returns — Certificate of election. 3
The local board shall meet on the day following the election and shall tabulate the town or 4
city election returns, as the case may be, and announce the results, but shall issue no certificates of 5
election until the time for petitions filed under this section has expired and, if a petition has been 6
filed, until the petition has been finally determined. Any candidate at the election challenging the 7
correctness of the declaration of result as applied to the candidate may, within seven (7) nine (9) 8
days after the election, petition the state board to conduct a recount of the votes cast according to 9
the provisions set forth in § 17-19-37.1. After the completion of the recount, and if it finds that the 10
candidate was elected, it shall direct the local board to issue to the candidate a certificate of election, 11
but if it finds that the candidate declared to be elected by the local board was in fact elected, it shall 12
direct the board to issue a certificate of election to the candidate previously declared elected. 13
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 14
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LC001710
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LC001710 - Page 2 of 2
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 1
request for a recount of the votes cast can be made to the board of elections. No certificates of 2
election may be issued, until the recount if any is completed. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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