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

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

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

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

Constitution for their approval and that it take the place of Article II Section 1 which is hereby

amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and vice president of the United States.

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

of Section 1, Article II of the Constitution;

     It is further

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

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

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

general officers of the state; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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

be held as aforesaid; and be it further

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

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

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

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 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

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

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LC001843

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