Town of Lincoln, RI Article VII School Committee

[Adopted 5-18-2004 by Ord. No. 04-4a]

§ 5-30 Authority.

Pursuant to the authority granted by Article II (Elections), § C2-5 of the Town Charter, entitled "Provisions for Election," as amended, and further pursuant to the provisions of Article XII (School Department), § C12-1 of the Town Charter, entitled "School Committee; number; term," as amended, the Town Council of the Town of Lincoln hereby ordains as follows.

§ 5-31 Nominations and elections.

Declaration and nomination papers for candidates for the School Committee shall be filed with and certified by the Board of Canvassers and Registration in a manner according to law. Declaration and nomination papers shall contain no designation of political party or political principle. If more than two candidates for any seat are certified to be qualified, there shall be a preliminary election for said seat(s) in the manner provided in this article. Said preliminary election shall be held on the same day as the biennial partisan primaries.

§ 5-32 Council district seats.

In the event more than two qualified candidates are certified by the Board of Canvassers and Registration to appear on any nonpartisan preliminary election for any council district School Committee seat, commencing with the partisan primary election of September 2004, the two qualified candidates who receive the highest certified vote total for any such seat in the said preliminary election shall be determined to be the sole candidates whose names shall appear on the ballot for the respective seat for the general election following the said preliminary election. All other preliminary ballot candidates shall be eliminated from the general election ballot.

§ 5-33 At-large seats.

In the event more than two qualified candidates are certified by the Board of Canvassers and Registration to appear on any nonpartisan preliminary election for School Committee for an at-large seat, commencing with the partisan primary election for September 2004, those candidates who receive the highest certified vote total, up to and including a maximum of four candidates, for the at-large seats in said preliminary election shall be determined to be the sole candidates whose names shall appear on the ballot for the at-large seats for the general election following the said preliminary election. All other preliminary ballot candidates shall be eliminated from the general election ballot.

§ 5-34 Candidate ballot order.

The position upon the ballot of the names of the candidates in any preliminary, general, or special election for nonpartisan School Committee seats shall be determined by lot or blind draw conducted by the Board of Canvassers and Registration. Names shall appear on the ballot in the same order as they are drawn by lot. Each qualified candidate, or his or her representative, shall be entitled to be present at the drawing for ballot position. The Board of Canvassers and Registration shall notify all qualified candidates of the date, time, and place of the drawing for ballot position at least 48 hours in advance of the drawing. The names of the qualified candidates shall appear on the ballot under the title of the respective office for which the candidate seeks election.