AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (This act would add early voting to the 50 feet buffer prohibitions against politicking during election day voting.)

S2131

2026 -- S 2131
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LC003428
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,
AND SUPPLIES

Introduced By:
Senators Zurier, Bissaillon, Burke, and Quezada

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 17-19-49 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct of
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Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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17-19-49. Political literature and influence.
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No poster, paper, circular, or other document designed or tending to aid, injure, or defeat
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any candidate for public office or any political party on any question submitted to the voters shall
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be distributed or displayed within the voting place or within fifty (50) feet of the entrance or
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entrances to the building in which voting is conducted at any primary or election
, including both
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early voting and election day voting
. Neither shall any election official display on his or her person
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within the voting place any political party button, badge, or other device tending to aid, injure, or
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defeat the candidacy of any person for public office or any question submitted to the voters or to
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intimidate or influence the voters.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003428
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,
AND SUPPLIES
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This act would add early voting to the fifty (50) feet buffer prohibitions against politicking
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during election day voting.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003428
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