reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 17-19-10.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-10.1 - Training and community outreach.

§ 17-19-10.1. Training and community outreach.In furtherance of the termination of the option of straight-party voting by means of a single mark in non-primary elections, the secretary of state shall, no later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of this section, conduct appropriate training and consultations with the state board of elections and local boards of canvassers as he or she may deem necessary in order for the proper administration of voting in the absence of the option of straight-party voting by means of a single mark. The secretary of state shall also conduct community outreach programs throughout the state, including, without limitation, the distribution of applicable materials to state and local libraries, in order to educate the public, including the elderly, with respect to the foregoing.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 279, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 280, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-19-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-11 - Election return forms - Contents.

§ 17-19-11. Election return forms — Contents.(a) The state board shall prepare and furnish, for each voting place at which machines are to be used, suitable forms on which the following information may be recorded for each machine in use:(1) The optical scan precinct count unit number;(2) The numbers of any serial seal or seals;(3) The voting place at which the optical scan precinct count unit is used;(4) The date of the election or primary at which the optical scan precinct count unit is used;(5) The number of names checked upon the voting list used at the election; and(6) The number of voters registered by the optical scan precinct count unit.(b) Space shall be left on the form in which the number of votes given for any person not a candidate at the election, and for what office, may be recorded. Spaces shall also be left for the signatures of the election inspector, the warden, clerk, and at least two (2) supervisors. The state board shall also furnish the necessary envelopes and adhesive labels required to be used in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.(c) Tapes printed from the optical scan precinct count unit indicating the number of votes registered by the unit for each candidate, and for what office, shall be attached to the election return form; tapes printed from the optical scan precinct count unit indicating the number of votes registered by the unit for and against each submitted question shall be attached to the election return form.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 11; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 7; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 6; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1947, ch. 1886, §§ 36, 39; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-12; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-11; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12.
RI Gen L § 17-19-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-12 - Delivery of election supplies.

§ 17-19-12. Delivery of election supplies.All printed matter, stationery, and supplies required to be furnished by this chapter shall be delivered to or picked up by the proper officer as determined by the state board not later than 12:00 p.m. the day before the election for which they are to be used. Computer ballots to be used at each polling place, ballot transfer cases, marking pens, secrecy sleeves, and any other items related to the voting equipment shall be packaged by the state board and shall be delivered to or picked up by the proper officer as determined by the state board.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 11; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 7; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 6; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-13; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-12; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12; P.L. 2017, ch. 5, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 23, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-19-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-13 - Exhibition of machines for instructional purposes.

§ 17-19-13. Exhibition of machines for instructional purposes.The local board may designate suitable and adequate times and places where optical scan voting equipment and sample ballots showing titles of offices to be filled and, so far as practicable, the names of candidates to be voted for at the next election shall be exhibited for the purpose of giving instructions as to the manner of casting a vote to all voters who apply. No optical scan precinct count unit that is to be used in an election shall be used for the instruction after it has been prepared and sealed for the election.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 12; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 8; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 7; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-14; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-13; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 6, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 24, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-19-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-14 - Preparation of voting equipment for election - Testing.

§ 17-19-14. Preparation of voting equipment for election — Testing.(a) Prior to any election at which optical scan precinct count units are to be used, the secretary of state shall prepare the layout and format of the computer ballot in conjunction with the voting equipment vendor under contract with the state. The secretary of state shall be responsible for the coding and layout of all computer ballots to be used in each election under contract, including the printing of the ballot and the preparation of the device to ensure that the ballots are compatible with the device, and shall transfer all information relative to the ballot and its preparation to the state board.(b) Subsequently, the state board, in conjunction with the voter equipment vendor under contract with the state, shall be responsible for the testing of the programmed memory cartridge, the testing of each unit for logic and accuracy, and the set up of each optical scan precinct unit at each polling place. The state board of elections shall determine, and document on the forms provided for that purpose, the fact that the programmed memory cartridges for the optical scan precinct count units are in good working order, that the daily counter is at zero, and all of the candidates' counters are set at zero and record no vote for any candidate.(c) The state board of elections, in conjunction with the voting equipment vendor under contract with the state, shall publicly conduct these tests on each programmed cartridge for each optical scan precinct count unit to be used for the election. This testing shall be made as near to the time of the election as is feasible.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 14; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 10; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 9; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1947, ch. 1886, §§ 36, 39; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-16; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-14; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 175, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 287, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12.
RI Gen L § 17-19-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-15 - Repealed.

§ 17-19-15. Repealed.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 9; P.L. 1948, ch. 2151, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-17; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-15; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12; Repealed by P.L. 2014, ch. 279, § 3, effective January 1, 2015; P.L. 2014, ch. 280, § 3, effective January 1, 2015.
RI Gen L § 17-19-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-16 - State election inspectors - Appointment - Duties - Training - Compensation.

§ 17-19-16. State election inspectors — Appointment — Duties — Training — Compensation.The state board may appoint and issue commissions to qualified electors of this state to be election inspectors assigned to some or all election polling places. On the day before any election, the state board may assign an election inspector to one or more polling place as the state board may determine. Each election inspector shall receive a sum, not exceeding sixty dollars ($60.00), to be fixed by the state board for each election at which the inspector serves. Each election inspector shall hold office at the pleasure of the state board, and shall observe the conduct of the elections at which the inspector is assigned to serve, and immediately report to the state board any irregularities the inspector may observe. The state inspectors shall also perform any other and further duties that may be assigned to the inspectors by the state board, and may be required to attend a training session conducted by the state board, for attendance at which the inspector shall be entitled to receive an additional twenty-five dollars ($25.00); provided, that the inspector is assigned to the performance of duties on election day and actually performs those duties.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 8; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; P.L. 1942, ch. 1244, § 1; P.L. 1953, ch. 3203, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-15; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-16; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1962, ch. 201, § 3; P.L. 1980, ch. 289, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 8.
RI Gen L § 17-19-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-17 - Custody of optical scan precinct count units and voting booths - Duties of local boards - Posting of sample ballots.

§ 17-19-17. Custody of optical scan precinct count units and voting booths — Duties of local boards — Posting of sample ballots.Each local board shall be responsible for safeguarding the optical scan precinct count units and voting booths delivered to it, and shall properly and safely locate the optical scan precinct count units in the polling places where they are to be used. The local board shall also be responsible for the storage of all voting booths assigned to them, and shall cause the voting booths to be delivered and picked up at the polling places in which they are to be used. The local board shall cause the keys of the voting equipment to be delivered to the warden of the elective meeting at which optical scan precinct count units are to be used at least half an hour before the opening of the polls. The key or keys of each optical scan precinct count unit shall be placed in a sealed envelope upon which shall be written or printed the number and location of the optical scan precinct count unit, and any other information or certification required pursuant to regulations promulgated by the state board of elections. The envelope shall be opened by the warden in the presence of the other election officers. The custody of the voting equipment shall remain with the local board up to the time of the delivery of the keys to the warden, and the local board shall be held fully responsible for any damage or injury to any voting equipment while it is in its custody, and for the failure to have voting equipment ready for use at the time of the opening of the polls. The local board shall cause the sample ballots to be posted in a conspicuous place in each polling place, outside the guard rail.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 14; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 10; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 9; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1947, ch. 1886, §§ 36, 39; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-19; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-17; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12.
RI Gen L § 17-19-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-18 - Examination of voting equipment prior to opening of polls.

§ 17-19-18. Examination of voting equipment prior to opening of polls.The warden shall, in company with the clerk and supervisors, before the opening of the polls, unlock each compartment of the optical scan precinct count unit to assure that no computer ballots are contained in any compartment. The warden shall also examine the computer ballot and compare it with the sample ballot. The warden shall determine, as far as he or she may do so without operating the optical scan precinct count unit, that the unit is in good order and ready for the use of the voters. He or she shall then close and lock each compartment of the optical scan precinct count unit. The warden shall open the polling place by following the instructions provided with the optical scan precinct count unit and carefully examine each vote total on the printed tape obtained from the optical scan precinct count unit and determine that no vote is registered on the tape for any candidate or question. The warden shall then declare the polls open.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 15; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 11; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-21; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-18; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12.
RI Gen L § 17-19-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-19 - Custody of machines during voting.

§ 17-19-19. Custody of machines during voting.During the time that the polls are open, and until the optical scan precinct count unit and voted computer ballots are finally locked and sealed and the removable keys thereof sealed up for transmission to the state board as provided in this chapter, the optical scan precinct count units, memory cartridges, and voted computer ballots shall remain in the care and custody of the warden, who shall see that the voting equipment is not defaced or injured by any voter or any other person. During the entire time in which the polls are open for voting, the ballot compartments shall be kept closed and locked; provided, that the emergency bin compartment slot shall be opened as provided in § 17-19-20. The vote totals are not to be printed under any circumstances during the time the polls are open for voting.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 15; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 11; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-22; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-19; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12.
RI Gen L § 17-19-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-20 - Repair or replacement of defective machines.

§ 17-19-20. Repair or replacement of defective machines.If an optical scan precinct count unit becomes out of order, the warden shall notify the voting equipment technician assigned to respond to those calls. While repairing or otherwise attending to the repair of any voting machine equipment, the voting equipment technician shall display, in a visible manner and on his or her clothing, an identification furnished by the state board of elections, and which shall include, whenever possible, a photograph of the voting equipment technician. In the event that repairs are made to the voting equipment, the voting equipment technician shall make the repairs in the presence of a bi-partisan pair of election officials, and the technician shall note on the official document provided the nature and extent of the repairs made by the technician, the number of the optical scan precinct count unit, the time required to make the repairs, and the probable cause of the failure to operate properly. If any optical scan precinct count unit cannot be repaired by the technician within a period of thirty (30) minutes, the technician and the board shall at once substitute another optical scan precinct count unit for the out of order unit, and at the close of the polls the records of both units shall be taken. During the time in which the optical scan precinct count unit is not accepting ballots, the warden shall, in the presence of the clerk, unlock the emergency bin compartment of the optical scan unit and shall direct voters to place their voted ballots into that compartment. Upon the repair of the unit, the warden, in the presence of the clerk, shall remove the ballots, deposit them in the appropriate ballot slot for counting by the unit, and shall then close and lock the emergency compartment slot.History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 15; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 11; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-23; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-20; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 388, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12.
RI Gen L § 17-19-21.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-21.1 - Polling place bake sales.

§ 17-19-21.1. Polling place bake sales.Bake sales may be held at polling places as long as conduct does not interfere with the orderly conduct of the scheduled election.History of Section.P.L. 2015, ch. 26, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 41, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-19-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-22 - Party checkers, runners, and watchers.

§ 17-19-22. Party checkers, runners, and watchers.The officers required to furnish and equip any voting place shall also provide a table in the room where the voting is conducted, outside the enclosed space near the first bipartisan pair of supervisors, at which a representative of each recognized political party bearing credentials signed by the proper ward or town committee chairperson, shall be allowed to sit for the purpose of keeping track of those who are voting, and these representatives, who shall be known as "checkers," may be changed during the day. A representative, known as a "runner," of each of the parties shall be allowed to come to the table at frequent intervals for the purpose of taking whatever list or memoranda the checkers may wish to give the runner. A representative of each recognized political party bearing credentials signed by the proper ward or town committee chairperson, shall also be allowed outside the enclosed place to observe the voting and assist the checkers, and these representatives shall be known as "watchers." The watchers and any election official shall have the right to challenge the right to vote of any person offering himself or herself as a voter.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 12; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-26; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-22; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 400, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-19-22.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-22.1 - Bilingual poll workers.

§ 17-19-22.1. Bilingual poll workers.Any board which determines that it requires ballots printed in a language other than English, pursuant to the provisions of § 17-19-54(a), shall provide at each polling place at least one individual who is fluent in the language for each language for which those ballots were sought. Such person or persons shall be available to assist voters in casting their ballots, upon request by the individual or at the direction of the warden, during all hours of poll operations. In addition, such person or persons shall otherwise comply with the provisions of § 17-19-26.1.History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 396, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-19-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-23 - Wardens and supervisors - Powers and duties.

§ 17-19-23. Wardens and supervisors — Powers and duties.The wardens shall:(1) Have general supervision of the voting place;(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2016, ch. 341, § 1 and P.L. 2016, ch. 364, § 1.](3) Assign and reassign and relieve the bipartisan pairs of supervisors, as the efficient conduct of the election may require;(4) Access the voting list and set it before the bipartisan pairs, if it has not been divided in sections, or set each section before a bipartisan pair where it has been divided in sections, immediately preceding the opening of the polls;(5) [Deleted by P.L. 2016, ch. 341, § 1 and P.L. 2016, ch. 364, § 1.](6) Be vigilant and responsible to prevent any voter from voting more than once;(7) Cause to be established a single line of persons desiring to vote and enlist the assistance of the supervisors and the police in attendance to maintain that line;(8) As far as consistent with their other duties, station themselves at the entrance to the polling area and prevent any person from entering the designated voting area, except under the authority of this chapter, and prevent any person from entering that area for the purpose of voting until that person's name has been announced and that person's identity certified according to law by the supervisors in charge of the voting list, and shall prevent any voter from departing the enclosed space while in possession of his or her computer ballot. A notice shall be provided by the state board and posted in a conspicuous place advising that it is a felony for a voter to leave the enclosed area while in possession of his or her ballot. The voter has the option of casting his or her ballot or surrendering the ballot to the warden whereby it will be marked void;(9) Cause to be removed or arrested any person or official who commits a violation of the election law in their presence or disturbs the conduct of the voting; provided, that they shall not cause any removal or arrest without the approval of the election inspector, unless the clerk agrees with the wardens that the person or official should be arrested or removed;(10) Have the power to administer oaths as required by this title, and to attest the oaths by signature in proof of the administration of the oaths.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 10; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-20; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-23; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1958 (s.s.), ch. 216, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12; P.L. 2016, ch. 341, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 364, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-19-23.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies|Section 17-19-23.1 - Certification and appointment of election officials.

§ 17-19-23.1. Certification and appointment of election officials.(a) All persons who attend and complete a program of instruction for election officials under § 17-7-5(a)(6) shall be issued a certificate by the board of elections. In addition to the compensation to which they are otherwise entitled, these persons shall also be entitled to receive the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) upon the performance of their duties on election day. The certificate shall be valid for a period of one year; provided, that the certificate shall be revocable at the discretion of the board of elections if the board believes that new developments have occurred requiring the re-certification of these persons.(b) Election officials shall, whenever practicable, be appointed from lists of certificated persons.(c) The board of elections shall have the authority to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 523, § 2; P.L. 1989, ch. 531, § 1.