Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-12-9 (2026)

Organization of city, town, and district committees — Officers — Lists of officers and members

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) All city, town, and district committees shall organize biennially in the month of January in every odd year; provided, that the city committee of the city of Providence shall organize quadrennially.

(b) Each city committee organized under this section may elect not exceeding three (3) officers outside its membership from among the voters of the same political party in the city, and the officers shall, by virtue of their election, become members of the city committee and shall hold office until the next organization meeting of the committee.

(c) Each city committee, town committee, and district committee, within ten (10) days after its organization, shall file with the secretary of state and with the local board a list of its officers and members.

(d) The chairperson of the city committee of each political party in the city of Providence shall appoint the members of a ward committee for each of the several wards of the city of Providence. These appointed ward committee members shall hold office until their successors shall have been duly elected, qualified, and organized.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 1968–1992 · leading case: DeCesare v. Bd. of Elections, 242 A.2d 421 (R.I. 1968).

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DeCesare v. Bd. of Elections, 242 A.2d 421 (R.I. 1968). · cites it 4× “The remaining question may be briefly *425 stated as follows: did the 59 candidates elected to the town committee at the September 13 primary constitute a legal entity of which it could be said that a vacancy therein existed within the meaning of § 17-12-12, supra? Public Laws…”

Fahey v. Darigan, 405 F. Supp. 1386 (D.R.I. 1975). · cites it 4× “G.L. § 17-12-9. 3 Pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 17-12-9, all of the ward committee members are required to meet in January of every odd-numbered year to organize the City Committee and elect its officers.”

Charlestown Democratic Town Comm. v. Connell, 789 F. Supp. 517 (D.R.I. 1992). · cites it 4× “G.L. § 17-12-9: Organization of city, town, and district committees — Officers—Lists of officers and members.”

Lee v. Nielsen, 426 A.2d 257 (R.I. 1981). · cites it 2× “1956 (1969 Reenactment) § 17-12-9. 1 Notice of this meeting was sent to the newly elected members of the committee.”

Lee v. Nielsen, 388 A.2d 1176 (R.I. 1978). “Town committees are required by statute to “organize biennially in the month of January in every odd year * * * General Laws 1956 (1969 Reenactment) §17-12-9. Accordingly, defendant Nielsen scheduled an organizational meeting for the newly elected Committee at his home on…”

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