EVCIElection Voter-Confidence Index

This statute establishes a statutory requirement for sample ballots prepared by the secretary of state and mandates distribution to the state board of elections and voting places. The requirement specifies content scope (explaining voting manner, voting for candidates individually, voting on questions) and distribution logistics (furnishing to board of elections and at least 3 per voting place). However, the criterion asks for a ballot information PAMPHLET with candidate and ballot-question information with defined content and distribution. This section addresses sample ballots focused on explaining HOW to vote, not necessarily a comprehensive pamphlet containing substantive candidate biographical information or detailed ballot-question explanations—which is what a voter information pamphlet typically contains. The statute codifies notification rules and distribution timing/logistics but does not enumerate detailed ballot-information content requirements beyond procedural guidance on voting mechanics. This satisfies part of the criterion (statutory requirement + distribution defined) but may not satisfy the full intent regarding comprehensive voter information pamphlets with candidate details.

“The secretary of state shall prepare a sample ballot that shall be a copy of the computer ballot to be used. The sample ballot shall clearly and briefly explain and illustrate the manner of casting a vote, of voting for candidates individually, and of voting upon questions.”

Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 17-19-54 explicitly codifies multilingual notice triggers by statute. The section establishes two clear population-threshold triggers: (1) more than 5% of voting-age citizens in a language minority who are limited-English proficient, OR (2) more than 10,000 such citizens; PLUS a literacy criterion (illiteracy rate higher than national rate). These thresholds reference the U.S. Census Director's determination and track the Voting Rights Act § 203. The statute then mandates that any registration, voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, materials, and ballots must be provided in both the minority language and English when a jurisdiction meets these triggers. The requirement explicitly applies to ballots. This satisfies the criterion because the multilingual ballot trigger is codified by statute with enumerated population thresholds and language-minority criteria.

“Whenever a city or town subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section provides any registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, it shall provide them in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language.”

The statute explicitly requires that candidate-filing documents (declarations of candidacy and nomination papers) be 'open, under proper regulation, to public inspection' immediately upon filing. The statute mandates preservation for at least 26 calendar months from filing, establishing both a public access requirement and a defined retention period. This directly satisfies the criterion's requirement that candidate-filing documents be publicly accessible within a defined time frame.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Section 17-12-12 addresses vacancies in district committee positions and the procedures for filling those vacancies through appointment or election by remaining committee members or state party officials. It does not contain any provisions regarding candidate disqualification, candidate withdrawal, ballot printing, or public notice procedures related to candidates. The section is focused on internal party committee structure and governance, not on candidate ballot status or voter notification about candidate changes. The criterion requires codification of public-notice procedures for candidate disqualification or withdrawal after ballot printing, which is entirely absent from this section.

This statute codifies a mandatory notification requirement with specific timing (at least 8 days before) and enumerated content requirements (time, place, and offices). It establishes both the procedural mechanism (posting in public places or newspaper publication) and the substantive information voters must receive. The statute meets the dual-scholar test: first, it establishes clear notification rules with definite timing; second, it specifies the content that must be communicated (when, where, and what offices). While this section addresses primary elections specifically and does not mention registration deadlines, it satisfies the core requirement for pre-election notice with timing and content defined in statute.

“At least eight (8) days before the time of holding any primary election, the local board shall cause notice of the primary to be posted in at least one public place in each voting district of any city, and in at least one public place in each voting district of a town. The notice shall state the time when, and the place where, the primary is to be held in each city, town or voting district, and the offices for which candidates are to be nominated”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: This section addresses procedures for voters who have changed address and how they may vote (affirmation forms, provisional ballots, etc.), but it does not establish a statutory requirement for the jurisdiction to notify individual voters in advance when their polling place has changed between elections. The statute focuses on remedial voting procedures for voters who are already aware of or affected by address changes, not on proactive notification requirements by election officials to inform voters of polling place changes. NOTIF.2 specifically requires codified rules mandating that individual notice be provided within a defined timeframe when polling places change—a requirement that is absent from this section.