2021 -- H 5983

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LC001843

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

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

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE - OF SUFFRAGE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Morales, Potter, Henries, Edwards, Felix, and
McGaw

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2021

     Referred To: House Judiciary

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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 that it take the place of Article II Section 1 which is hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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     Section 1. Persons entitled to vote. -- Every citizen of the United States of the age of

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eighteen years or over who has had residence and home in this state for thirty days next preceding

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the time of voting, who has resided thirty days in the town or city from which such citizen desires

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to vote, and whose name shall be registered at least thirty days next preceding the time of voting

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as provided by law, shall have the right to vote for all offices to be elected and on all questions

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submitted to the electors, except that no person who has been lawfully adjudicated to be non

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compos mentis shall be permitted to vote. No person who is incarcerated in a correctional facility

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upon a felony conviction shall be permitted to vote until such person is discharged from the

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facility. Upon discharge, such person's right to vote shall be restored. The general assembly may

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provide by law for shorter state and local residence requirements to vote for electors for president

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and vice president of the United States.

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     RESOLVED, That this amendment shall take, in the Constitution of the State, the place

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of Section 1, Article II of the Constitution;

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     It is further

 

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     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment 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 it further

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     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendment to

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

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meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices

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to be issued previous to said meetings of the elections for the purpose of warning the town, ward,

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or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or district meetings to

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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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LC001843

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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 AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE - OF SUFFRAGE

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     This joint resolution would propose an amendment to the state constitution eliminating

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the thirty-day residency and registration requirement before voting in an election.

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LC001843

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