reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-23 - Party designation.

§ 17-9.1-23. Party designation.(a) Whenever any person registers to vote, that person may designate his or her party affiliation, or that person may designate that he or she is not affiliated with any political party. The information shall be recorded on a form prescribed by the state board of elections.(b) Any person who is already registered to vote and wishes to designate his or her party affiliation may do so by submitting to that person's local board of canvassers a form provided by the state board designating his or her party affiliation and certifying to the fact on the form furnished for that purpose.(c) Whenever any person participates in a party primary, that act shall serve as identifying the person as being affiliated with the party in whose primary that person has participated and the local board shall record the affiliation on the appropriate form. For the purposes of this section, "participating in a party primary" does not include the circulation or signing of nomination papers.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4; P.L. 2019, ch. 109, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 141, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-24 - Change of designation.

§ 17-9.1-24. Change of designation.(a) Any person who has designated his or her party affiliation pursuant to § 17-9.1-23 may change the designation on or before the thirtieth day preceding any primary election for which the person is eligible. Whenever any person desires to change his or her party designation, that person shall submit to the local board of the city or town in which that person has his or her residence, as defined in § 17-1-3.1, or before the clerk or other duly authorized agent of the board, and shall change his or her party designation and, after the information has been recorded on the form furnished for that purpose, the person shall sign his or her name and certify to the truth of the facts recorded in the appropriate spaces in the form. For the convenience of persons voting at a primary election, forms for changing party designation shall be available at all primary polling places. The presence of the forms at the primary polling place shall not be construed to allow a person to change his or her party designation within thirty (30) days preceding the primary election.(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 109, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 141, § 1.](c) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 109, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 141, § 1.]History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4; P.L. 2000, ch. 4, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 2, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 109, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 141, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-27 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-27 - Periodic updating of voter registration records.

§ 17-9.1-27. Periodic updating of voter registration records.(a) In every odd-numbered year, the secretary of state shall update the central voter register using the United States Postal Service National Change of Address (NCOA) Program. The office of the Secretary of State shall be responsible for obtaining the NCOA data and providing each local board of canvassers with their data; provided, that the updating shall be performed by each local board. The NCOA list of address changes shall be compared by the local board with lists of registered voters, and if address changes are detected for any voter, the local board shall institute the confirmation process described in § 17-9.1-26.(b) Each local board of canvassers in each city or town shall send annually, a notice prescribed by the secretary of state and marked "Do Not Forward — Return if Undeliverable", to every active registered voter who has not voted in the past five (5) calendar years and has not otherwise communicated with the board during that period of time, advising them of their current polling place and voting eligibility, and informing them that mail that is returned as undeliverable will initiate the confirmation process described in § 17-9.1-26; provided, however, that the local boards shall not be obligated to send such notice if the state or federal government fails to appropriate the necessary funds. The mailing shall take place in all municipalities and be performed in a uniform manner, in accordance with standards adopted by the secretary of state and the list maintenance procedures provided by the National Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4; P.L. 2001, ch. 243, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 400, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 176, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 185, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-29 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-29 - Penalty for unsubstantiated challenge.

§ 17-9.1-29. Penalty for unsubstantiated challenge.Every person who willfully and maliciously challenges the registration of a voter without reasonable cause to suspect that the voter is not qualified shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, in addition, be liable to the challenged voter for compensatory and punitive damages as well as for his or her counsel fees. The mere fact that a challenge was not sustained by the board shall not give rise to any civil or criminal liability of the objector.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-30 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-30 - Appeal of ruling by board of canvassers.

§ 17-9.1-30. Appeal of ruling by board of canvassers.Notwithstanding any provisions of the general laws to the contrary, all appeals from decisions rendered by the board of canvassers of the various cities and towns regarding the eligibility of a person to vote shall be to the state board of elections.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-31 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-31 - Voter registration advisory board.

§ 17-9.1-31. Voter registration advisory board.(a) The state board of elections shall establish a voter registration advisory board, subsequently referred to as the advisory board, to assist in the drafting of regulations and the monitoring of implementation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg et seq., and to help recruit and train the volunteer registrars. The advisory board shall issue an annual report to the state board, governor, and general assembly on its activities.(b) The advisory board shall consist of eighteen (18) members. The governor shall appoint one member from the League of Women Voters, one member of the Urban League, one member of Common Cause, one member of Ocean State Action, one member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, one member of the R.I. Black Caucus of State Legislators, and one representative of a state employees' union. The speaker of the house shall appoint two (2) members, not more than one from the majority party. The president of the senate shall appoint two (2) members, not more than one from the majority party. In addition, the following shall be members: the secretary of state or her or his designee; the directors or their designees of the division of motor vehicles, the department of human services, the department of health, and the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals; and the chairpersons or their designees of the governor's commission on disabilities and the governor's commission on Hispanic affairs. The members shall annually elect a chairperson and other officers as are necessary.(c) Of the number of members originally appointed under this section, one-third (⅓) shall be appointed for a term of one year to be chosen by lot; one-third (⅓) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, to be chosen by lot; and one-third (⅓) shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, to be chosen by lot. Thereafter, vacancies created by expiration of terms shall be filled with appointments for terms of three (3) years. Members whose terms expire may be reappointed to succeed themselves. The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation for their services, but may, at the discretion of the governor, be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 19; P.L. 2013, ch. 501, § 94.
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-32 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-32 - Private voter registration - State departments and agencies.

§ 17-9.1-32. Private voter registration — State departments and agencies.Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit private voter registration activities in the public areas of state departments and agencies.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-9.1-33 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters|Section 17-9.1-33 - Age.

§ 17-9.1-33. Age.(a) Every person who has reached the age of eighteen (18) years or who is seventeen (17) years of age and will be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, and is otherwise qualified to register may do so for that election.(b) A person who is otherwise qualified to register and is at least sixteen (16) years of age, but will not be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, may preregister upon satisfactory proof of age and shall be automatically registered upon reaching eighteen (18) years of age.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 390, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-9.2-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.2 - Rhode Island Restoration of Voting Rights Act|Section 17-9.2-1 - Title.

§ 17-9.2-1. Title.This chapter may be cited as the "Rhode Island Restoration of Voting Rights Act."History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 476, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-9.2-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-9.2 - Rhode Island Restoration of Voting Rights Act|Section 17-9.2-2 - Findings and purpose.

§ 17-9.2-2. Findings and purpose.(a) Findings. The legislature finds that:(1) Voting is both a fundamental right and a civic duty. Restoring the right to vote strengthens our democracy by increasing voter participation and helps people who have completed their incarceration to reintegrate into society. Voting is an essential part of reassuming the duties of full citizenship.(2) Rhode Island is the only state in New England that denies the vote to people convicted of felonies, not only while they are in prison, but also while they are living in the community under the supervision of parole or probation officials.(3) As a result of this extended disfranchisement, Rhode Island deprives a greater proportion of its residents of voting rights than any other state in the region. More than fifteen thousand five hundred (15,500) Rhode Islanders have lost the right to vote because of a felony conviction. Of these, eighty-six percent (86%) are not in prison, they have either been released or their convictions did not result in actual incarceration. Rhode Island has the second highest rate of people on probation in the nation.(4) Criminal disfranchisement in Rhode Island has a disproportionate impact on minority communities. The rate of disfranchisement of African American voters is more than six (6) times the statewide rate. Hispanics lose the vote at more than 2.5 times the statewide average. One in five (5) black men and one in eleven (11) Hispanic men are barred from voting in Rhode Island. By denying so many the right to vote, criminal disfranchisement laws dilute the political power of entire minority communities. Because these communities are concentrated in cities, the urban vote is also suppressed, with the rate of disfranchisement in urban areas 3.5 times the rate in the rest of the state.(5) Extending disfranchisement beyond a person's term of incarceration complicates the process of restoring the right to vote. Under current law, a person may regain that right when released from incarceration if no parole follows, when discharged from parole, or when probation is completed. This system requires the involvement of many government agencies in the restoration process. This bill would simplify restoration by making people eligible to vote once they have served their time in prison, thereby concentrating in the department of corrections the responsibility for initiating restoration of voting rights. A streamlined restoration process conserves government resources and saves taxpayer dollars.(b) Purpose. The purposes of this act are to strengthen democratic institutions by increasing participation in the voting process, to help people who have completed prison sentences to become productive members of society, and to streamline procedures for restoring their right to vote.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 476, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-10-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-2 - Right to vote unprejudiced by errors.

§ 17-10-2. Right to vote unprejudiced by errors.A voter's registration shall not be invalidated nor the voter's right to vote be prejudiced by any error in filing registration cards or in the preparation of lists of voters or in making any change or transfer in the records.History of Section.P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, § 23; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-7; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-3; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-2.
RI Gen L § 17-10-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-3 - Publication of preliminary lists.

§ 17-10-3. Publication of preliminary lists.(a) Immediately after the close of registration for each general election and each primary election for a general election, the local board shall publish and post a preliminary list of all persons who appear from the registration cards to be duly registered to vote at the next ensuing election. The preliminary list for a primary election shall be subject to the requirements of chapter 13 of this title. The preliminary list shall contain the names and addresses of registered voters arranged in the same order as the file of original registration cards. The preliminary list shall be computer generated from the statewide central voter registry system. The list shall be available for public inspection at the local board of canvassers, where the list shall be open to examination at all reasonable times. The local board shall, upon request, furnish without charge and without unreasonable delay, five (5) copies of the preliminary list to the state, city, or town chairperson of any political party.(b) The preliminary list shall be deemed a public record; and any elector of the city or town, upon request, shall be given a copy of the list upon payment of no more than the actual cost of reproduction.(c) The preliminary list shall contain the following language in bold print:"You must be registered to vote from your actual place of residence."History of Section.P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, §§ 5, 7; P.L. 1952, ch. 2897, § 1; G.L. 1956, §§ 17-10-10, 17-10-11, 17-10-26; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-4; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1972, ch. 152, § 4; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 312, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 5; P.L. 1986, ch. 188, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 5; P.L. 2006, ch. 87, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 96, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-10-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-4 - Defacement of posted lists.

§ 17-10-4. Defacement of posted lists.Every person who unlawfully takes down, defaces, or destroys any list of voters posted up as provided in § 17-10-3 shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 8, § 8; G.L. 1909, ch. 8, § 8; G.L. 1909, ch. 8, § 5; P.L. 1910, ch. 640, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 8, § 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 313, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-12; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-5; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 7; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; G.L., § 17-10-4.
RI Gen L § 17-10-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-5 - Canvass and correction of preliminary lists.

§ 17-10-5. Canvass and correction of preliminary lists.(a) The local board shall, before the twentieth (20th) day preceding each election, meet and canvass the preliminary lists and hear objections to the inclusion or omission of any person as a registered voter, and it shall at that time make a final canvass and correction of the registration files. It shall give notice of the time and place of the meeting, for at least ten (10) days previous to it, by posting notices of the meeting in the same manner as required by this chapter for the posting of the preliminary list, and by publication once, at least ten (10) days previous to the meeting, in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the city or town. At or following the meeting, the local board shall strike from the lists and direct the cancellation of the registration of every person who is not qualified to vote at the election for which the final canvass is made, and shall immediately notify the secretary of state of that action. No registration shall be cancelled or a voter's right to vote be otherwise limited based upon a finding that the voter no longer resides within the city or town unless the voter has confirmed either in person or in writing that the voter no longer resides within the city or town or the board has received written evidence that the voter has registered to vote within another city or town or in another state.(b) The local boards may meet and canvass the voting lists of any senatorial district, representative district or districts, ward or wards, or voting district or districts in any senatorial or representative district, ward, or voting district, or at their office or other previously designated place, at any other convenient time or times, on the same day or different days, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.G.L. 1909, ch. 8, § 3; P.L. 1910, ch. 640, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 8, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 313, § 3; P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, § 6; P.L. 1952, ch. 2897, § 2; P.L. 1956, ch. 3746, § 1; G.L. 1956, §§ 17-10-8, 17-10-14; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-6; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1963, ch. 209, § 4; P.L. 1966, ch. 116, § 6; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 7; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; G.L., § 17-10-5; P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 5.
RI Gen L § 17-10-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-6 - Evidence given at final canvass.

§ 17-10-6. Evidence given at final canvass.Any qualified elector shall have the right to appear before the local board on the date set for final canvass and give evidence concerning the correctness of the preliminary registration list. Upon the basis of all the evidence, the local board shall make any further corrections in the registration records that it may find necessary. A stenographic record shall be taken at the proceedings and maintained as a permanent record of the board of canvassers.History of Section.P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, § 6; P.L. 1956, ch. 3746, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-15; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-7; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; G.L., § 17-10-6.
RI Gen L § 17-10-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-7 - Proof required to strike name.

§ 17-10-7. Proof required to strike name.No name shall be stricken from any voting list by any local board upon evidence given at the final canvass meeting unless sworn proof is presented to the board that that name is the name of a person not qualified to vote at the election for which the registration and voting list is being canvassed. No name shall be stricken for ineligibility to vote on the basis of residence except as provided in this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, § 6; P.L. 1956, ch. 3746, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-17; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-8; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; G.L., § 17-10-7; P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 5.
RI Gen L § 17-10-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-8 - Notice of striking of names.

§ 17-10-8. Notice of striking of names.In each city and town the local board shall, within one hundred and twenty (120) hours after striking the name of any person from any registration or voting list, cause to be mailed to the person, postage prepaid, at that person's last address in the registration records, a notice of the striking of his or her name, and the reason for the striking; except that the notice provided for in this section shall not be required where the voter has requested the action, or has died.History of Section.P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, § 6; P.L. 1956, ch. 3746, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-18; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-9; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 312, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-10-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-9 - Record of vote on adding or striking names.

§ 17-10-9. Record of vote on adding or striking names.The clerk of the local board shall record the votes of the members of the board on adding or striking the name of any person from the list of voters whenever requested to do so by any member of the board or by any qualified elector of the city or town present at the time of canvassing, a certified copy of this record shall be evidence of the facts stated in it; and for any willful neglect on the part of the clerk to make a record, whenever requested as provided in this section, the clerk shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.History of Section.P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, § 28; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-19; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-10; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 7; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; G.L., § 17-10-9.
RI Gen L § 17-10-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-10 - Canvassing the Lists of Qualified Electors|Section 17-10-10 - Corrections by state board.

§ 17-10-10. Corrections by state board.The state board may request any local board to make any correction in any voting list, and if the local board does not immediately comply with the request, the state board may make the correction itself, and this correction shall not be changed except on order of the supreme court. Any person whose name is stricken from any voting list by the state board may file a petition as from an action of the local board as provided in this chapter. The state board shall notify the secretary of state of the action. The state board, in ordering the striking of any names from a voting list, shall be subject to the same requirements and limitations as are applicable to local boards, including but not limited to, the provisions of § 17-10-5.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 313, § 17; P.L. 1940, ch. 817, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-20; G.L. 1956, § 17-10-11; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1963, ch. 209, § 4; P.L. 1978, ch. 203, § 1; G.L., § 17-10-10; P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 5.