§ 17-23-2. Signature of posters, fliers, and circulars.
No person shall intentionally write, print, post, or distribute, or cause to be written, printed, posted, or distributed, a circular, flier, or poster designed or tending to injure or defeat any candidate for nomination or election to any public office, by criticizing the candidate’s personal character or political action, or designed or tending to aid, injure, or defeat any question submitted to the voters, unless there appears upon the circular, flier, or poster in a conspicuous place the name of the author and either the names of the chairperson and secretary, or of two (2) officers, of the political or other organization issuing the poster, flier, or circular, or of some voter who is responsible for it, with the voter’s name and residence, and the street and numbers, if any.
History of Section.P.L. 1923, ch. 457, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 325, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 17-23-2; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 282, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 17-23 - Election Offenses
Section 17-23-1. - Signature and labeling of advertising in periodicals.
Section 17-23-2. - Signature of posters, fliers, and circulars.
Section 17-23-3. - Penalty for advertising violations.
Section 17-23-4. - Fraudulent or repeat voting.
Section 17-23-5. - Bribery or intimidation of voters — Immunity of witnesses in bribery trials.
Section 17-23-6. - Improper influence by employers.
Section 17-23-7. - Protection of names of major parties.
Section 17-23-8. - Failure to furnish certificate of election.
Section 17-23-9. - Violations as to nomination papers or withdrawals — Protection of party emblems.
Section 17-23-10. - Violations by public officers generally.
Section 17-23-11. - Limitation of prosecutions — Payment to complainant.
Section 17-23-12. - Qualification of person obtaining signatures.
Section 17-23-13. - Sound equipment.
Section 17-23-14. - Political advertising.
Section 17-23-15. - Polling or surveying of voter opinion.
Section 17-23-16. - Guaranteed access in exchange for contributions prohibited.
Section 17-23-17. - Violations with respect to elections.
Section 17-23-18. - Political advertising from official budgets prohibited.