Rhode Island General Laws 17-19-22. Party checkers, runners, and watchers
The officers required to furnish and equip any voting place shall also provide a table in the room where the voting is conducted, outside the enclosed space near the first bipartisan pair of supervisors, at which a representative of each recognized political party bearing credentials signed by the proper ward or town committee chairperson, shall be allowed to sit for the purpose of keeping track of those who are voting, and these representatives, who shall be known as “checkers,” may be changed during the day. A representative, known as a “runner,” of each of the parties shall be allowed to come to the table at frequent intervals for the purpose of taking whatever list or memoranda the checkers may wish to give the runner. A representative of each recognized political party bearing credentials signed by the proper ward or town committee chairperson, shall also be allowed outside the enclosed place to observe the voting and assist the checkers, and these representatives shall be known as “watchers.” The watchers and any election official shall have the right to challenge the right to vote of any person offering himself or herself as a voter.
History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 12; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-26; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-22; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 400, § 2.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 17-19-22
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9