reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 17-5-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-5 - Statewide Referenda Elections|Section 17-5-1 - Referenda elections - Constitutional and public questions.

§ 17-5-1. Referenda elections — Constitutional and public questions.Any proposition of amendment of the Constitution or any public question of statewide impact submitted to the electors of this state at a general election pursuant to § 17-1-2(2) held subsequent to 1997 shall be held in conformity with this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 245, § 2; P.L. 1980, ch. 381, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 156, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 518, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 85, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 38, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 414, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 411, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-5-1.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-5 - Statewide Referenda Elections|Section 17-5-1.1 - Special referenda elections.

§ 17-5-1.1. Special referenda elections.Any proposition of amendment of the Constitution or any other public question submitted to the electors of the state at any election not a general election pursuant to § 17-1-2(2) shall be held on the first Tuesday next after the first Monday of any month and shall be voted upon at town, ward, and district meetings, in accordance with the following procedure:(1) When an act of the general assembly is passed authorizing the submission of a question to all of the electors of the state, the secretary of state is authorized to rephrase the question to appear on the ballot in a manner that would clearly apprise the voters of the question to be voted upon and to cause the ballot to contain a concise caption of the question, and the full text of the question as adopted by the general assembly need not appear on the ballot except for proposed amendments to the Constitution of the state of Rhode Island. The secretary of state shall cause each question appearing on the ballot prepared by him or her to be designated by number, the first question to be designated by the numeral I and additional questions shall follow numbered so that all questions submitted to all the electors of the state and appearing upon the ballot are numbered consecutively; provided that local questions shall be printed on a distinctive colored background.(2) Prior to the election at which public questions are to be submitted, the secretary of state shall cause to be printed and shall send one copy of the full text of each legislative act to be acted upon and applicable to the state at large, or the secretary of state may substitute a description of the text of each act in lieu of the full text, to each residential unit in Rhode Island together with the following information:(i) The designated number of the question appearing on the ballot;(ii) A brief caption of the question appearing on the ballot; and(iii) A brief explanation of the measure being the subject matter of the question.(3) Voting on a proposition of amendment of the Constitution or of a public question of statewide impact shall be by means of optical-scan voting equipment and computer ballots authorized pursuant to this title.History of Section.P.L. 1980, ch. 381, § 2; P.L. 1982, ch. 156, § 1; P.L. 1983 (s.s.), ch. 336, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 163, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 4; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 4; P.L. 2018, ch. 182, § 4; P.L. 2018, ch. 279, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-5-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-5 - Statewide Referenda Elections|Section 17-5-2 - Repealed.

§ 17-5-2. Repealed.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 245, § 2; Repealed by P.L. 2006, ch. 80, § 1, effective June 13, 2006.
RI Gen L § 17-5-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-5 - Statewide Referenda Elections|Section 17-5-3 - Publication of questions to be submitted to voters.

§ 17-5-3. Publication of questions to be submitted to voters.(a) Prior to each general election at which public questions are to be submitted, the secretary of state shall cause to be printed and shall send one copy of the full text of each legislative act to be acted upon and applicable to the state at large, or the secretary of state may substitute a description of the text of each act in lieu of the full text, to each residential unit in Rhode Island together with the following information:(1) The designated number of the question;(2) A brief caption of the question;(3) A brief explanation of the measure that is the subject matter of the question; and(4) A notice that voter fraud is a felony and the penalty for voter fraud. This notice shall be in conspicuous lettering and shall contain the following language: "You must be registered to vote from your actual place of residence."(b) If the public question involves the issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or any other long term financial obligation such as a lease, the notice required by subsection (a) of this section shall also include at least the following information to be provided by the agency or department for which the bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or any other long term financial obligation is intended:(1) The estimated total cost of the project or program, including financing (using a reasonable assumed rate of interest), legal, and other costs.(2) The estimated useful life of the project, and the term of the bonds, other indebtedness, or other obligation.(3) A reasonably detailed description of the project or program, its purposes, and a project timetable.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 245, § 2; P.L. 1984, ch. 163, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 186, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 321, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 4; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-5-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-5 - Statewide Referenda Elections|Section 17-5-4 - Manner of voting.

§ 17-5-4. Manner of voting.Voting on all public questions submitted at the general election shall be by use of optical scan voting equipment and computer ballots authorized pursuant to this title.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 245, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 4; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-5-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-5 - Statewide Referenda Elections|Section 17-5-6 - Count of votes - Declaration of results.

§ 17-5-6. Count of votes — Declaration of results.Through the use of optical scan voting equipment authorized pursuant to this title, the state board shall count and tabulate all votes cast and shall declare the result in the manner provided by law, and this declaration shall be a sufficient notice to all officers, and all other persons interested, of the adoption or the rejection of any amendment of the Constitution or of the manner in which any question submitted to the electors of the state has been decided.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 245, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 4; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-6-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-1 - General powers and duties.

§ 17-6-1. General powers and duties.(a) The secretary of state shall have those functions, powers, and duties relating to elections that may be provided by this title or any other law not inconsistent with this chapter. The secretary of state shall maintain a central roster of all elected and appointed officers of the state, including for each officer the nature of the officer's tenure and the date of expiration of the officer's term of office. The secretary of state shall maintain a central register of all persons registered to vote in the several cities and towns and shall add, amend, delete, and cancel any names appearing on the register as certified to the secretary by the several local boards and by the state board.(b) The secretary of state may compile and publish a complete edition of the election law that the secretary shall make available to all election officials and candidates upon request and without charge. The secretary of state shall receive and file certificates of election results as provided by this title.(c) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general laws to the contrary, the office of the secretary of state shall have the authority to submit and approve the specifications used by the department of administration in procuring voting systems, voting system-related services, and accessible voting equipment on behalf of the state.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1963, ch. 209, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 191, § 3; P.L. 1987, ch. 293, § 3; P.L. 1992, ch. 250, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 366, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 476, § 3; P.L. 2015, ch. 176, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 201, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-1.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-1.1 - Central voter register.

§ 17-6-1.1. Central voter register.In addition to any other powers and duties given to the secretary by this title, the secretary of state is authorized to issue rules and regulations relative to the central voter register, and local boards of canvassers are hereby directed to comply with reasonable requests by the secretary of state for information to accurately maintain the central voter register.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 199, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-1.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-1.2 - Statewide central voter register.

§ 17-6-1.2. Statewide central voter register.(a) Given the development of the necessary technology and the potential availability of federal funds, the secretary of state shall procure a statewide central voter register in accordance with all relevant state purchasing requirements. The system shall include, but not be limited to:(1) A statewide database maintained by the secretary of state;(2) All necessary hardware and software for the thirty-nine (39) local boards of canvassers to maintain their local voter registration records;(3) All necessary hardware and software necessary for the electronic integration of voter registration records from the division of motor vehicles;(4) All necessary hardware and software for the electronic integration of voter registration records from certain agencies processing voter registrations in accordance with § 17-9.1-8 where the secretary of state finds that the number of registrations processed warrants the electronic integration; and(5) Additional terminals for access to the voter files as determined by the secretary of state.(b) Local boards of canvassers will have the responsibility and sole authority for any addition, correction, or deletion of information from their local voting records. The office of the secretary of state, or the designee of the secretary of state, shall provide training and technical support for all local boards of canvassers in the operation and maintenance of their local voter registration system.(c) The format and structure of the database shall be developed by the office of the secretary of state in conjunction with the vendor to whom the contract is awarded.(d) Funding for the procurement of the statewide central voter register shall be through federal funds appropriated to the state of Rhode Island, subject to appropriation by the general assembly, pursuant to election reform legislation adopted by the United States Congress in 2002.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 191, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 192, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-1.3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-1.3 - Designation of Chief State Election Official under the National Voter Registration Act.

§ 17-6-1.3. Designation of Chief State Election Official under the National Voter Registration Act.The secretary of state is designated as the chief state election official under section 10 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-8) to be responsible for the coordination of the State of Rhode Island's responsibilities under that Act.History of Section.P.L. 2003, ch. 29, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 30, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-2 - Primary elections.

§ 17-6-2. Primary elections.(a) The secretary of state shall, as otherwise provided by this title, prepare, print, and distribute the following forms relating to primary elections:(1) Declaration of candidacy;(2) Endorsement by party;(3) Primary nomination papers for national and state offices;(4) Certifications of the list of local candidates where primaries are to be conducted.(b) The secretary of state shall also receive and file primary nomination papers; and shall consult with the state board with respect to its administration of primary elections.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 389, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-6-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-3 - Computer ballots and sample ballots.

§ 17-6-3. Computer ballots and sample ballots.The secretary of state shall be responsible for the arrangement, preparation, printing, and provision of all computer ballots, to be used in conjunction with the optical scan voting equipment authorized pursuant to this title, and sample ballots to be used at any election. The secretary of state shall deliver to the state board a sufficient quantity of sample ballots to be used by the board in the preparation of voting equipment for each election.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 5; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 5.
RI Gen L § 17-6-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-4 - Absentee, shut-in, and war ballots.

§ 17-6-4. Absentee, shut-in, and war ballots.The secretary of state shall prepare, print, and furnish all application forms for absentee, shut-in, and war ballots. The secretary of state shall arrange, print, and distribute all these ballots, together with instruction sheets and the required envelopes, in accordance with the requirements of this title.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-5 - Registration lists available to political parties and candidates.

§ 17-6-5. Registration lists available to political parties and candidates.(a) Upon application in writing, the secretary of state shall, upon request, furnish prepaid at a reasonable price to be established annually by the secretary and at a reasonable time, to the state chairperson of each political party and to each person proposing to be a duly qualified candidate for state or congressional office and to no one else except as provided in this chapter, lists of registered voters as they appear in the central voter registry of each city or town or of each senatorial or representative district, or of each congressional district.(b) These lists, so furnished, shall be used by the chairpersons for political purposes, or by the candidates only in the furtherance of candidacy for political office in the ensuing primary and/or general election and for no other purpose. The information available for each registrant shall consist only of the name, designation of party affiliation, street address, city or town, congressional district, senatorial district, representative district, ward, and/or precinct and nothing else.(c) The price for these lists shall include update subscriptions as available to the date of the election for which the lists have been requested. These updates shall reflect changes to the registry records, including all new and deleted voters as received by the secretary of state.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-6 - Oath required as to use of lists.

§ 17-6-6. Oath required as to use of lists.Every person receiving the registry lists shall take and subscribe to the following oath:"I understand that the lists requested by me are the property of the state of Rhode Island and (I affirm that I am the state chairperson of the ____ party); (I proposed to be a duly qualified candidate in the next following primary and/or election); and that I am a person authorized by § 17-6-5 to receive a copy of the registry lists described; and I further affirm that the lists will be used only for the purposes prescribed and for no other use and that I will not permit the use of or copying of the lists by unauthorized persons.____Signature of purchaserSubscribed and sworn to before me at ____, this ____ day of ____, 20____.____Notary public"History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-7 - Penalty for violating §§ 17-6-5 and 17-6-6.

§ 17-6-7. Penalty for violating §§ 17-6-5 and 17-6-6.Every person who violates the provisions of §§ 17-6-5 and 17-6-6 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 3.
RI Gen L § 17-6-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-8 - Exception for local canvassing authorities.

§ 17-6-8. Exception for local canvassing authorities.The secretary of state shall furnish, without charge, to the canvassing authorities of the several cities and towns, lists of registrants pertaining to those respective cities and towns.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-9 - Public record.

§ 17-6-9. Public record.All requests for registration lists, and the action taken on those requests by the secretary of state, shall be deemed to be public records and shall be open for inspection during regular business hours.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-10 - Availability of registration lists.

§ 17-6-10. Availability of registration lists.These lists shall be made available by the secretary of state not later than June 1 in any year.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 109, § 28.
RI Gen L § 17-6-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-11 - Lists not deemed official.

§ 17-6-11. Lists not deemed official.Registration lists purchased pursuant to §§ 17-6-5 — 17-6-10 are not to be deemed to be the official voting lists for any districts. The official lists are those prepared and published by the several local boards.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-12 - Form of lists.

§ 17-6-12. Form of lists.The lists may be distributed as requested in the form of either printed lists or magnetic tapes.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 207, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-6-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-6 - Secretary of State|Section 17-6-13 - Electoral process education.

§ 17-6-13. Electoral process education.During each year in which a general election is to be held, the secretary of state shall identify communities within the state in need of electoral process education by outreaching community organizations. Electoral process education shall consist of instruction on how a person may become a candidate for electoral office and how a person registers and votes for candidates for electoral office. The secretary of state shall furnish electoral process education throughout the state of Rhode Island in a manner to be determined by the secretary of state.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 61, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-7-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-7 - State Board of Elections|Section 17-7-1 - Legislative intent.

§ 17-7-1. Legislative intent.It is the intent of the general assembly that the board of elections be a board on which all the qualified electors of the state, regardless of their political identification or the lack of it, will be eligible to serve. The governor, in making these appointments, and the senate, in confirming them, shall consider the abilities and integrity of the qualified electors under consideration and their knowledge of and/or experience in the working of the election laws of the state. They shall strive to select a board whose membership shall be representative of all citizens of the state and of their diverse points of view.History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 312, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-7-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-7 - State Board of Elections|Section 17-7-2 - Composition of board.

§ 17-7-2. Composition of board.There shall be, independent of every other department and agency of this state, a board of elections consisting of seven (7) qualified electors of this state, of outstanding honesty and ability and none of whom shall hold any other public office or be employees of persons who hold state wide public office, but no person shall be disqualified solely because that person is a notary public, who shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, as provided in this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 312, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 371, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-7-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-7 - State Board of Elections|Section 17-7-3 - Appointment of members - Vacancies.

§ 17-7-3. Appointment of members — Vacancies.(a) The governor shall forthwith upon June 8, 1979 appoint seven (7) members of initial terms as follows: one member upon initial appointment shall serve for a term of two (2) years; one member upon initial appointment shall serve for a term of four (4) years; one member upon initial appointment shall serve for a term of six (6) years; one member upon initial appointment shall serve for a term of eight (8) years; one member upon initial appointment shall serve for a term of ten (10) years; one member upon initial appointment shall serve for a term of twelve (12) years; one member upon initial appointment shall serve for a term of fourteen (14) years; and upon the expiration of the terms, the governor shall appoint persons for succeeding terms of fourteen (14) years, respectively. All members of the board appointed or reappointed after January 1, 2008, shall serve for terms of nine (9) years beginning in January 2008, and in January of every even numbered year thereafter, the chairperson and vice chairperson of the board shall be elected by majority vote of the members of the board.(b) In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of chairperson or vice chairperson after January 1, 2008, the board shall in the manner provided in subsection 17-7-3(a) elect another of its members to be chairperson or vice chairperson, to fill the vacancy; provided, if the vacancy occurs as a result of death or resignation, the new chairperson or vice chairperson shall only fill the unexpired term.(c) In the event a vacancy occurs on the board, the governor shall appoint within thirty (30) days a new member to fill the vacancy; provided if the vacancy occurs as a result of death or resignation, the new member shall only fill the unexpired term. All appointments to fill vacancies shall be made in accordance with Article IX, section 5 of the Constitution of the state of Rhode Island and §§ 36-1-10 through 36-1-12.History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 312, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 522, § 1.