§ 17-9.1-3. Periods when boards receive registrations. (a) The local boards shall open their respective offices for the purposes of receiving registration of voters throughout the year during the regular business hours. Registration for any election shall close on the thirtieth (30th) day preceding an election; provided, that local boards shall not receive the registration on Sundays or legal holidays, and may receive the registrations during additional hours each day from the fortieth (40th) to the thirtieth (30th) day before any election. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as restricting the right of statewide or local registration agents or members of the general assembly to accept registrations of voters on any day. The acceptance of registrations at any other time shall not affect the validity of any election.

(b) Notwithstanding any other sections of the general laws to the contrary, all local boards of canvassers shall remain open from eight-thirty (8:30) a.m. until four o'clock (4:00) p.m. on the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations to permit participation of the voters in the next succeeding election. In the event that the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then the local board may;

(1) Designate one publicly accessible location in the city or town at which voter registrations will be taken; and

(2) Designate the hours during which voter registration will be taken at that location, which hours shall include the hours from one o'clock (1:00) p.m. until four o'clock (4:00) p.m.

(c) If a local board does designate a location other than its regular place of business or does designate hours other than eight-thirty o'clock (8:30) a.m. until four o'clock (4:00) p.m., it shall:

(1) Publicly announce those designation(s) at least ten (10) days prior to the last day provided by law for the taking of voter registrations; and

(2) Advertise those designation(s) in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town at least twice prior to the last day prescribed by law for the taking of voter registrations.

History of Section. (P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4; P.L. 1996, ch. 137, § 1.)