reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 17-23-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-5 - Bribery or intimidation of voters - Immunity of witnesses in bribery trials.

§ 17-23-5. Bribery or intimidation of voters — Immunity of witnesses in bribery trials.Every person who directly or indirectly gives, or offers to agree to give, to any elector or to any person for the benefit of any elector, any sum of money or other valuable consideration for the purpose of inducing the elector to give in or withhold that elector's vote at any election in this state, or by way of reward for having voted or withheld that elector's vote, or who uses any threat or employs any means of intimidation for the purpose of influencing the elector to vote or withhold that elector's vote for or against any candidate or candidates or proposition pending at an election, shall be guilty of a felony, and no person after conviction of this offense, shall be permitted to vote in any election or upon any proposition pending before the people, or to hold any public office; and no evidence given by any witness testifying upon the trial of any charge of bribery shall be used against the person giving the evidence.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 14, § 3; P.L. 1907, ch. 1428, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 20, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 19, § 3; P.L. 1936 (s.s.), ch. 2468, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-5; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-23-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-6 - Improper influence by employers.

§ 17-23-6. Improper influence by employers.(a) Every person being an employer who, within ninety (90) days of a general election, pays any of his or her employees the salary or wages due them in "pay envelopes" upon which there is written or printed, or in which there is inserted: (1) a notice or information, to the effect that if any particular ticket or candidate is elected or defeated, work in the employer's place or establishment will cease, in whole or in part, or the employer's establishment will be closed, or the wages of the employer's employees will be reduced, or (2) any political motto, device, or argument containing threats, expressed or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political actions or opinions of the employees, or who puts up or otherwise exhibits, in the employer's establishment or place where the employer's employees are engaged in labor, any handbill or placard containing any such notice or information or threat, shall be guilty of a felony.(b) Any person, after conviction of this offense, shall forfeit that person's right to vote in any election or upon any proposition before the people, or to hold any public office, except that a corporation shall forfeit its charter; and no evidence given by any witness testifying in the trial of any charge of violation of this section shall be used against the person giving the evidence.History of Section.G.L. 1923, ch. 19, § 3; P.L. 1936 (s.s.), ch. 2468, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-6; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-23-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-7 - Protection of names of major parties.

§ 17-23-7. Protection of names of major parties.(a) It shall be unlawful for any club or society or association, whether incorporated or not, to include in its name the word "republican" or "democrat" or any designation indicating its affiliation with a political party, unless:(1) If it is state or congressional district wide in its membership or activities, it has the written consent for the inclusion of the state central committee of the republican or democratic party, as the case may be;(2) If it is city or town wide in its membership or activities, it has the written consent for the inclusion of the city or town committee of the republican or democratic party, as the case may be, of the city or town in which its activities are or are to be centered;(3) If it is ward or voting district wide in its membership or activities, it has a written consent for the inclusion of the ward committee of the republican or democratic party, as the case may be, of the ward in which its activities are or are to be centered;(4) If it is senatorial or representative district wide in its membership or activities, it has the written consent for the inclusion of the district committee of the republican or democratic party, as the case may be, of the senatorial or representative district, as the case may be, in which its activities are or are to be centered.(b) Every member and every officer of any club, society, or association, whether incorporated or not, violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.(c) Upon the written request of one member of the committee from which consent for the inclusion should have been obtained as provided in this section, the attorney general shall institute appropriate court proceedings to prevent continued violations of this section.History of Section.P.L. 1931, ch. 1714, §§ 1, 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, §§ 6, 7; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-7; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1966, ch. 116, § 23; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-23-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-8 - Failure to furnish certificate of election.

§ 17-23-8. Failure to furnish certificate of election.Every city or town clerk or local board required by law to furnish any city, town, ward, or voting district officer elect with a proper certificate of the officer's election who neglects or refuses to do so, as soon as possible after the election, shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.History of Section.P.L. 1901, ch. 829, § 28; G.L. 1909, ch. 10, § 30; G.L. 1923, ch. 10, § 29; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-8; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-23-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-9 - Violations as to nomination papers or withdrawals - Protection of party emblems.

§ 17-23-9. Violations as to nomination papers or withdrawals — Protection of party emblems.Any person who falsely makes, or willfully defaces or destroys, any certificate of nomination or nomination paper, or any part of it, or any letter of withdrawal, or files any certificate of nomination or nomination paper or letter of withdrawal, knowing it or any part of it to be falsely made, or suppresses any certificate of nomination or nomination paper or letter of withdrawal, or any part of it, which has been duly filed, and any person or persons who prints, stamps, or affixes, or causes to be printed, stamped, or affixed, upon any letterhead, circular, or pamphlet used for political purposes, or upon political literature of any nature, a representation of the chosen emblem or device of any political party in this state without having first obtained the consent, in writing, of the chairperson of the state central committee of the political party whose chosen emblem or device is sought to be used for these purposes, shall be guilty of a felony.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 11, § 45; P.L. 1905, ch. 1229, § 8; G.L. 1909, ch. 11, § 50; G.L. 1923, ch. 11, § 49; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-9; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-23-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-10 - Violations by public officers generally.

§ 17-23-10. Violations by public officers generally.Any public officer, upon whom a duty is imposed by this title, who willfully neglects to perform his or her duty, or who performs it in a way that hinders the objects of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 11, § 46; G.L. 1909, ch. 11, § 51; G.L. 1923, ch. 11, § 50; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, § 10; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-10; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-23-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-11 - Limitation of prosecutions - Payment to complainant.

§ 17-23-11. Limitation of prosecutions — Payment to complainant.All prosecutions for offenses against the provisions of this chapter shall commence within one year after the offenses have been committed, and not afterwards. And upon the presentation of a certificate of the clerk of any court of the final conviction in the court of any person under the provisions of this chapter, the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her order on the general treasurer for the sum of fifty dollars ($50), and deliver the sum to the person complainant in the prosecution.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 14, § 4; G.L. 1909, ch. 20, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 19, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, § 11; impl. am. P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 65; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-11; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-23-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-12 - Qualification of person obtaining signatures.

§ 17-23-12. Qualification of person obtaining signatures.(a) No person, except one qualified to sign a petition for the adoption of a home rule charter as provided in § 6 of article XIII of the Constitution of this state, shall circulate any petition, or obtain signatures on any petition, and any petition circulated, or any signature obtained, by any unqualified person shall be null and void for all purposes.(b) Nor shall any person not qualified as provided in subsection (a) of this section, obtain signatures on nomination papers of any elector seeking to be a candidate at any election held for the purpose of selecting the members of a charter commission, and any signature appearing on any nomination paper which has been obtained by one not qualified shall be null and void for all purposes.(c) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and any person who, knowing that he or she is not qualified pursuant to the Constitution, willfully signs any petition for the adoption of a home rule charter, or the nomination papers of any candidate for a position on a charter commission, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.History of Section.P.L. 1961, ch. 50, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 77.
RI Gen L § 17-23-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-13 - Sound equipment.

§ 17-23-13. Sound equipment.No sound equipment advocating the election or defeat of any candidate or the approval or disapproval of any referenda shall be allowed within five hundred (500) feet of any polling place.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-23-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-14 - Political advertising.

§ 17-23-14. Political advertising.No newspaper, periodical, radio, or television station shall charge for a political advertisement a sum greater than that charged by the medium for advertisement if it were nonpolitical. The attorney general shall enforce the provisions of this section and, upon conviction, a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) shall be imposed.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 64, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-23-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-15 - Polling or surveying of voter opinion.

§ 17-23-15. Polling or surveying of voter opinion.(a) No person shall conduct any form of poll or survey of voter opinion or voter conduct within a building or within fifty (50) feet of the entrance or entrances to a building in which voting is being conducted at any primary or election; provided, that nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to or to affect the activities of election officials or election inspectors, or "checkers", "runners", and "watchers" as defined in § 17-19-22.(b) Notice of this section shall be posted in a conspicuous place at all polling places.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 440, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 192, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-23-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-16 - Guaranteed access in exchange for contributions prohibited.

§ 17-23-16. Guaranteed access in exchange for contributions prohibited.As defined in § 17-2-1, no general officer and no candidate for a general office shall solicit campaign contributions by guaranteeing to all contributors of a specified minimum amount of money, as a quid pro quo for their contributions, the right to meet with the general officer or candidate on a predetermined number of occasions. The phrase "the right to meet" shall not be construed to include the holding of a one time public fundraising event at which the general officer or candidate is present.History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 367, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-23-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-17 - Violations with respect to elections.

§ 17-23-17. Violations with respect to elections.(a) Any person is guilty of a felony who:(1) Makes a declaration of candidacy or obtains, circulates, or causes to be circulated his or her nomination papers for an office, knowing or with good reason to know that he or she is not qualified as provided in this title to be his or her party's candidate for the office;(2) Knowingly or without reasonable and proper investigation makes any substantial misstatement in any declaration of candidacy, nomination paper, or affidavit provided for in this title;(3) Signs a nomination paper when he or she knows that he or she is not qualified to sign;(4) Votes or attempts to vote at any election when he or she knows or should know that he or she is not qualified to vote;(5) Votes or attempts to vote more than once at any election, or votes or attempts to vote in more than one political party's primary on the same day;(6) Votes or attempts to vote at any election under the name of any other person;(7) Willfully hinders the orderly conduct of any election;(8) Gives a false answer to any election official relative to his or her right to vote at the election;(9) Aids or abets a person not entitled to vote at any election in voting or attempting to vote under a name other than the voter's name or in voting twice upon the voter's name;(10) Willfully alters or makes any change, erasure, or additional check upon the voting list used or to be used at any election; or(11) Willfully violates any provisions of chapters 12 — 15 of this title for which violation a specific penalty is not provided.(b) Any person who unlawfully and knowingly signs the name of any other person on any nomination papers shall be guilty of a felony.(c) Any public officer or officer of a political party who willfully violates any of the provisions of chapters 12 — 15 of this title, or refuses or willfully neglects and omits to perform, in the manner and within the time prescribed, any duty imposed upon the officer by these chapters, or suffers or permits any alteration, erasure, or additional check to be made upon a voting list in the officer's custody or control, shall be guilty of a felony.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 147, § 2; P.L. 1998, ch. 139, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-23-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-18 - Political advertising from official budgets prohibited.

§ 17-23-18. Political advertising from official budgets prohibited.(a) Except in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this section, no elected official shall permit the expenditure of public funds from any official budget under his or her authority for any publication, advertisement, broadcast, or telecast of his or her photograph, voice, or other likeness to be broadcast or distributed to the public during the one hundred and twenty (120) days preceding any primary or general election in which he or she is a candidate.(b) This section shall not be construed to prohibit an official from appearing on regular capitol television programming operated by the general assembly or on television stations operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation during the period of time or programming of regular or special meetings of city or town councils or any local governmental board, agency or other entity.(c) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the publication, broadcast, or telecast of any photograph, voice, or other likeness of an elected official that is distributed to the public by or through an official government website or social media presence provided that the website or social media presence is continuously maintained in the regular course of official government business exclusively for general informational or transparency purposes.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 241, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 311, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 144, art. 7, § 3; P.L. 2019, ch. 302, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-23-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses|Section 17-23-19 - Referenda advertisements.

§ 17-23-19. Referenda advertisements.Media outlets in Rhode Island that sell time for advertisements pertaining to referenda questions at an election shall require the purchasers of the advertisements to prominently display the state in which the referenda election is to be held.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 399, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-24-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-24 - Compelling Performance of Election Duties|Section 17-24-1 - Mandamus by supreme court - Replacement of officer refusing to obey.

§ 17-24-1. Mandamus by supreme court — Replacement of officer refusing to obey.Whenever any person upon whom is imposed any duty connected with the calling, warning, or conducting of any town, ward, or district meeting, or with the canvassing of the lists of voters for use at these meetings, or with the counting of the votes cast at the meetings, or the declaring of the result of the votes, fails, neglects, or refuses to perform his or her duty within the time specified by law for its performance, the supreme court shall immediately, upon the petition of any citizen of the city or town where the failure, neglect, or refusal occurred, issue its writ of mandamus ordering the person failing, neglecting, or refusing to perform the duties in question within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the issuance of the writ; and if the failure, neglect, or refusal continues beyond the twenty-four (24) hours specified in the writ, the court shall immediately appoint some suitable person to at once perform the duties, and the person refusing to obey the writ of mandamus shall, in addition to the penalties by law for the failure, neglect, or refusal to perform his or her duties, be liable to those further penalties for contempt of court that the court may impose for failure to obey the writ.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 14, § 5; C.P.A. 1905, § 1226; G.L. 1909, ch. 20, § 5; G.L. 1923, ch. 19, § 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 326, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-24-1; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-24-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-24 - Compelling Performance of Election Duties|Section 17-24-2 - Performance of duties by supreme court appointee.

§ 17-24-2. Performance of duties by supreme court appointee.The person appointed by the court, as provided in § 17-24-1, shall immediately proceed to perform the duties devolved upon him or her by the court, and the acts done by him or her in pursuance of his or her appointment shall be as effectual and valid in all respects as if the acts had been done and performed by the person failing, neglecting, or refusing, at the time and in the manner provided by law.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 14, § 6; G.L. 1909, ch. 20, § 6; G.L. 1923, ch. 19, § 6; G.L. 1938, ch. 326, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 17-24-2; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-24-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-24 - Compelling Performance of Election Duties|Section 17-24-3 - Powers of court appointee - Hindering performance.

§ 17-24-3. Powers of court appointee — Hindering performance.The person appointed by the court, as provided in § 17-24-1, shall be deemed an officer of the court and shall have full and free access to all records and papers necessary to enable him or her to perform the duties devolved upon him or her by the court, and any person interfering with or in any way hindering his or her discharge of his or her duties shall be liable to those penalties that may be prescribed by the court for contempt, and it shall be the duty of the sheriffs of the several counties and their deputies to see that the provisions of this chapter are enforced within their respective counties.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 14, § 7; G.L. 1909, ch. 20, § 7; G.L. 1923, ch. 19, § 7; G.L. 1938, ch. 326, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 17-24-3; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-25-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-25 - Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting|Section 17-25-1 - Short title.

§ 17-25-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act".History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 298, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-25-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-25 - Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting|Section 17-25-2 - Declaration of policy.

§ 17-25-2. Declaration of policy.It is declared to be in the public interest and to be the policy of the state to require the reporting of certain contributions received and expenditures made to aid or promote the nomination, election, or defeat of all candidates for public office.History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 298, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 188, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-25-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-25 - Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting|Section 17-25-4 - Applicability.

§ 17-25-4. Applicability.The provisions of this chapter shall apply in any primary, general, or special election or town meeting for any public office of the state, municipality, or district or for the determination of any question submitted to the voters of the state, municipality, or district.History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 298, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 188, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-25-5.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-25 - Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting|Section 17-25-5.1 - Manual of legal requirements.

§ 17-25-5.1. Manual of legal requirements.The board of elections shall prepare and publish a manual prescribing the requirements of the law, and the secretary of state shall have copies of the manual available for individuals filing candidacy papers.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 188, § 2; P.L. 1982, ch. 347, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-25-5.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-25 - Rhode Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting|Section 17-25-5.2 - Segregation of campaign funds.

§ 17-25-5.2. Segregation of campaign funds.(a) All campaign funds received and expended by a candidate, office holder, treasurer, or deputy treasurer, subject to the provisions of this chapter, shall be segregated from all other accounts. The candidate or office holder must maintain a separate campaign account, which shall not contain any non-campaign funds, at a financial institution that has a physical branch within this state. The comingling of a candidate's personal or business funds with campaign funds is expressly prohibited. As used herein, the term "financial institution" includes a bank or a credit union.(b) Applicability to political action committees. The provisions of this section shall apply to political action committees, as well as to individual candidates and office holders.History of Section.P.L. 2015, ch. 20, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 23, § 1.