2022 -- S 2232

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LC004276

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL SENATE COMMISSION TO STUDY RANKED CHOICE VOTING

FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GENERAL OFFICER PRIMARIES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, DiMario, Kallman, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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     WHEREAS, Using Ranked Choice Voting has the potential to expand the range of

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choices available to voters by allowing them to vote for candidates of their choice without

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concern of giving an advantage to the candidate they least prefer and promote campaigns that are

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more positive and focused on issues because candidates will seek to appeal to opponents'

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supporters as a second choice; now therefore be it

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

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consisting of seven (7) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more

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than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

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whom shall be a representative of the Board of Elections, to be appointed by the President of the

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Senate; one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be

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clerks of a city or town of this state, to be appointed by the President of the Senate.

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     All members of the study commission shall be registered voters of this state at the time of

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their selection and at all times while they remain on the commission.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to study the potential application of ranked

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choice voting on primary elections for General Assembly and General Officer candidates,

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including, but not limited to;

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     • Analyzing the requirements for implementing ranked choice voting, including public

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education, voting equipment and technology, ballot designs, and costs;

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     • Determining the level of public support for ranked choice voting;

 

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     • Reviewing the experience of other states in conducting elections using ranked choice

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voting;

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     • Providing recommended changes in the law to implement ranked choice voting;

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     • Providing recommendations on making all voting systems used in the state compatible

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with ranked choice voting, including a review of the availability and costs of necessary voting

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equipment; and

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     • Studying any other alternatives to single-ballot plurality voting the commission

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considers relevant or useful.

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

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the call of the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a Chair of the commission.

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

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     A quorum of the commission shall consist of a majority of its membership, and the

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membership of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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

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

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by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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

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suitable quarters for the commission; and be it further

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

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President of the Senate on or before February 1, 2023, and the commission shall expire on July 1,

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2023.

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LC004276

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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 SENATE COMMISSION TO STUDY RANKED CHOICE VOTING

FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GENERAL OFFICER PRIMARIES

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     This resolution would create a seven (7) member commission to study ranked choice

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voting for General Assembly and General Officer primaries, and would report back to the

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President of the Senate on or before February 1, 2023, and would expire on July 1, 2023.

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LC004276

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LC004276 - Page 3 of 3