‘Master lever’ bills signed at State House ceremony
STATE HOUSE – The governor was joined by several key legislators during a signing ceremony at the State House of legislation to eliminate the “master lever,” or straight-party voting option, on all non-primary Rhode Island elections that will be held after January 1, 2015.
Sponsored in the House by Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) and in the Senate by Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), the bills (2014-H 8072A and 2014-S 2091A) were passed by the General Assembly and officially signed by the governor earlier this year.
The new law also includes a requirement for a “Training and Community Outreach” program. It requires the Secretary of State to conduct training and consultations with the State Board of Elections and local boards of canvassers. It also requires the Secretary of State to conduct community outreach programs throughout the state, including the distribution of materials to state and local libraries.
Rhode Island had been one of only 14 states, and the only New England state, that used the “master lever,” or straight-party voting, procedure in elections.
According to information obtained from the Secretary of State’s State Library files, the master lever was instituted in Rhode Island in 1935 as part of a law enacted that year allowing the use of voting machines. The first attempt to repeal the law came in 1948.
PHOTO: Joining Governor Chafee at the bill signing ceremony were, behind governor from left, are Senator Bates, Rep. Mia Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) and Representative Shekarchi.