2016 -- H 7311

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LC003567

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS--A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MAJORITY VOTE

REQUIREMENT THROUGH INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING FOR GENERAL OFFICERS

AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS' ELECTION)

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Blazejewski, Marcello, Roberts, and

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

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     WHEREAS, The proposed amendment to Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution of the

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State is intended to resolve that successful candidates for state general officers and general

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assembly seats receive a majority of votes cast.

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     RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general

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assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the State be proposed

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to the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the

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Constitution for their approval and the following section is hereby amended, effective January 1,

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2017, to read as follows:

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     ARTICLE IV

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     OF ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE

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     Section 2. Election by majority or plurality. -- In all elections of general officers and

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general assembly members, only those persons or candidates receiving a majority of the votes

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cast shall be declared elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, then an instant

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runoff voting system shall be employed to determine the winner of the election.

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     In all other elections held by the people for state, city, town, ward or district officers, the

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person or candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast shall be declared elected.

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     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendments shall be submitted to the electors

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for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the

 

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several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for

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general officers of the state; and be if further

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     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendments

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to be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the

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said meetings of the said electors and the said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or

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district meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be

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warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and

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district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town,

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ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS--A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MAJORITY VOTE

REQUIREMENT THROUGH INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING FOR GENERAL OFFICERS

AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS' ELECTION)

***

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     The proposed amendment to the state constitution, if approved, would require that all

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winning candidates for election to general office and to the general assembly receive a majority

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of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, then an instant runoff

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voting system would be employed to determine the winner of the election.

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LC003567

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