The bill amends several sections of the General Laws concerning the nomination of party and independent candidates, specifically addressing the timelines and procedures for filing declarations of candidacy and nomination papers. Key changes include the specification of new filing deadlines, such as requiring declarations of candidacy to be submitted on the seventy-seventh and seventy-eighth days before the primary election, and adjusting the deadlines for filing nomination papers from sixty days to sixty-seven days prior to the primary. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions for the certification and checking of nomination papers, including the requirement for local boards to notify the state board of any suspected patterns of forgery.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the date of primary elections, changing it from the eighth to the ninth Tuesday preceding biennial state elections, with a provision for rescheduling if this date falls immediately after Labor Day. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, and aims to streamline the election process by clarifying the requirements and timelines for candidates and election officials.

Statutes affected:
5381: 17-15-1