The bill amends several sections of the General Laws concerning the nomination of party and independent candidates, specifically in Chapter 17-14. Key changes include the adjustment of deadlines for filing declarations of candidacy and nomination papers. The new deadlines for filing nomination papers are set at sixty-one days before the primary for party and independent candidates, with objections to be filed by four o'clock p.m. on the fifty-fourth day before the primary. Additionally, the bill specifies that the primary election date will now be the ninth Tuesday preceding biennial state elections, with a provision for adjustment if this date falls immediately after Labor Day.

The act introduces new language regarding the preparation and distribution of nomination papers, ensuring that candidates receive the necessary documentation in a timely manner. It establishes a clearer process for handling objections to nomination papers, including the requirement for local candidates' objections to be filed at the local board and for federal and state candidates' objections to be filed in the office of the secretary of state. The act also outlines the timeline for hearings on objections, with decisions to be rendered within two days for candidates participating in a primary election and within thirty days for candidates not participating in a primary election. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
741: 17-15-1