2022 -- H 7225

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LC004046

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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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 - PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE

     Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Kazarian, Amore, Cassar, Kislak, McGaw, Tanzi,
Diaz, Henries, and Morales

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     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 place of Article II, Section 1, it is hereby amended,

effective January 1, 2023, 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, effective January 1, 2023; and be it 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 offices 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 the 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 lectors 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 as 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 elections 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 - PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE

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     This joint resolution would authorize the submission to the electors of a constitutional

amendment that would allow eligible citizens to register to vote removing the requirement that

the registration be completed thirty (30) days before an election.

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LC004046

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