2021 -- S 0425

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LC001482

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY VOTER FRAUD

     Introduced By: Senators Morgan, Rogers, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     WHEREAS, The right to vote in a free and fair election is the most basic civil right, one

on which many other rights of the American people depend; and

     WHEREAS, Preserving the experiment that is the American Republic is dependent on

free and fair elections; and

     WHEREAS, Election integrity is essential and the security of the ballot box cannot be

left to a simple honor system; and

     WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon state government to safeguard the electoral process,

and ensure that every voter's right to cast a ballot is protected; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of seven (7) members: one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, to be appointed

by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, to be appointed by

the Senate Minority Leader; one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Chairperson of the Board of Elections, or designee; one of whom shall be a

professional in the area of cybersecurity, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

whom shall be a professional with a background in law enforcement, to be appointed by the

Senate Majority Leader; and one of whom shall be a member of a local Board of Canvassers, to

be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment, consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations for preventing voter fraud.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select a chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

Senate no later than February 7, 2022, and said commission shall expire on April 7, 2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY VOTER FRAUD

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     This resolution would create a seven (7) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations to prevent voter fraud, and who

would report back to the Senate no later than February 7, 2022, and whose life would expire on

April 7, 2022.

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