Rhode Island General Laws Title 17. Elections § 17-23-12. Qualification of person obtaining signatures

(a) No person, except one qualified to sign a petition for the adoption of a home rule charter as provided in § 6 of article XIII of the Constitution of this state, shall circulate any petition, or obtain signatures on any petition, and any petition circulated, or any signature obtained, by any unqualified person shall be null and void for all purposes.

(b) Nor shall any person not qualified as provided in subsection (a) of this section, obtain signatures on nomination papers of any elector seeking to be a candidate at any election held for the purpose of selecting the members of a charter commission, and any signature appearing on any nomination paper which has been obtained by one not qualified shall be null and void for all purposes.

(c) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and any person who, knowing that he or she is not qualified pursuant to the Constitution, willfully signs any petition for the adoption of a home rule charter, or the nomination papers of any candidate for a position on a charter commission, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.