The bill proposes amendments to the General Laws concerning election procedures, focusing on establishing uniform filing deadlines for election-related documents and outlining the process for declarations of candidacy and nomination papers. It amends Section 17-1-7 to set a standard deadline of 4:00 p.m. for all election-related papers, except for emergency mail ballot applications, which have a deadline of 4:00 p.m. the day before an election or primary. Deadlines that fall on weekends or holidays are moved to the next business day, with the exception of voter registration or party designation changes, which must occur 30 days before an election or primary.

Further amendments are made to Sections 17-14-1, 17-14-1.1, 17-14-11, and 17-14-12, detailing the deadlines and requirements for candidates' declarations of candidacy and nomination papers. The bill sets specific filing deadlines for different types of elections, including special elections and federal office elections, and describes the necessary information for a candidate's declaration, such as certifications about criminal convictions and political party membership. It also lays out the procedures for verifying and certifying nomination papers, including the filing deadlines with the secretary of state or local boards and the process for challenging signatures. The bill is designed to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
840: 17-1-7