Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-8-5 (2026)

Local boards — Powers and duties — Quorum

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) Each canvassing authority shall have and exercise the functions, powers, and duties provided for local boards by this title or by any law not inconsistent with this title. It shall:

(1) Select one of its members as presiding officer and another as clerk of the board; provided, that nothing in this title shall be deemed to affect the powers and duties of the town clerk who shall be ex officio the clerk of the respective town canvassing authorities; and provided, further, that in the cities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, Newport, Woonsocket, Cranston, and Warwick, the clerk shall be designated at the time of his or her election or appointment;

(2) Have and discharge all of the functions, powers, and duties of the town council concerning nominations, elections, registration of voters and canvassing rights, the preparing and correcting of voting lists, and other related matters, which powers are transferred to the local board;

(3) Make or furnish all returns or other things required by law to be made or furnished to or by city clerks, boards of canvassers, and district clerks, relative to any matter within the purview of this title;

(4) Appoint and employ all its necessary clerical and technical assistants and fix the compensation of each person appointed, within the limits of funds available to it pursuant to law; provided, that in the cities of Cranston and Woonsocket and the town of Coventry the employment and compensation shall be subject to the approval of the respective city or town councils.

(b) A quorum of a local board for the purpose of receiving registrations shall be comprised of one member of the board, and for all other purposes a quorum shall be comprised of two (2) members.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1996–2017 · leading case: Gill v. State of Rhode Island, 933 F. Supp. 151 (D.R.I. 1996).

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Gill v. State of Rhode Island, 933 F. Supp. 151 (D.R.I. 1996). · cites it 6× “G.L. § 17-8-5 (Michie 1994). In addition, the election laws define political party as “any political organization which at the preceding general election nominated a candidate for governor, and whose candidate for governor at the election polled at least five percent (5%) of the…”

Town of Johnston v. Rhode Island Council 94, Local 1491 Ex Rel. Prata, 159 A.3d 83 (R.I. 2017). · cites it 4× “General Laws 1956 § 17-8-5 provides that each local canvassing board “shall have and exercise the functions, powers, and duties provided for local boards by this title or by any law not inconsistent with this title.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-8-5(2) — 1 case

Gill v. State of Rhode Island, 933 F. Supp. 151 (D.R.I. 1996). “G.L. § 17-8-5 (Michie 1994). In addition, the election laws define political party as “any political organization which at the preceding general election nominated a candidate for governor, and whose candidate for governor at the election polled at least five percent (5%) of the…”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-8-5(a) — 1 case

Town of Johnston v. Rhode Island Council 94, Local 1491 Ex Rel. Prata, 159 A.3d 83 (R.I. 2017). “General Laws 1956 § 17-8-5 provides that each local canvassing board “shall have and exercise the functions, powers, and duties provided for local boards by this title or by any law not inconsistent with this title.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-8-5(a)(2) — 1 case

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-8-5(a)(4) — 1 case

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