2012 -- H 7949

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LC02183

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - VOTER CHOICE ACT

     Introduced By: Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2012

     Referred To: House Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-29-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-29 entitled "Voter

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Choice Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-29-3. Voter choice study commission -- Established -- Definitions. -- (a) The voter

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choice study commission is hereby established for the purpose of studying instant runoff voting

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and other advanced voting methods.

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      (b) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, "Advanced voting

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method" means a voting method that allows an elector to indicate a preference for more than one

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candidate in an election and that determines the winner of the election by majority vote.

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"Advanced voting method" includes, but is not limited to, instant runoff voting, approval voting,

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range voting, and proportional voting.

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      (c) The voter choice study commission shall consist of fourteen (14) sixteen (16)

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members selected as follows:

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      (1) Seven (7) Eight (8) members to be appointed by the speaker of the house, no more

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than five (5) six (6) of whom shall be from the same political party, and at least three (3) two (2)

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of whom shall be the clerk of a city or town of this state;

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      (2) Seven (7) Eight (8) members to be appointed by the president of the senate, no more

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than five (5) six (6) of whom shall be from the same political party, at least two (2) of whom shall

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be the clerk of a city or town of this state; and

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      (3) Provided, that all members of the study commission shall be registered voters of this

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state at the time of their selection and at all times while they remain on said study group.

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      (d) Members of the voter choice study group shall be appointed no later than August 1,

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2011 2012.

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      (e) The voter choice study commission shall:

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      (1) Study advanced voting methods;

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      (2) Analyze the requirements for implementing advanced voting methods, including

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public education, voting equipment and technology, ballot designs, the costs of conducting the

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pilot project established by this chapter and using advanced voting methods in elections for state

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and federal offices, and savings due to the elimination of primary elections;

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      (3) Determine the level of public support for a change in voting methods;

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      (4) Review the experience of other states in conducting elections using advanced voting

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methods;

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      (5) Recommend statutory changes to implement advanced voting methods in elections

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for state and federal offices to be held in the state in 2014;

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      (6) Make recommendations on making all voting systems used in the state compatible

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with advanced voting methods by 2014, including a review of the availability and costs of

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necessary voting equipment;

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      (7) Make recommendations to the governing bodies and designated election officials of

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political subdivisions of the state on preparing to conduct an election using an advanced voting

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methods; and

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      (8) Consider changes to the state's statutes governing access to the ballot for presidential

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candidates.

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      (f) The voter choice study commission shall present a report on its work to the general

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assembly, the governor, and the secretary of state no later than January 4, 2012 May 1, 2013.

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      (g) The director of research of the legislative council and the director of the office of

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legislative legal services shall provide staff assistance to the voter choice study commission.

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      (h) The members of the voter choice study commission shall serve without

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compensation; except that the members shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in

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the performance of their duties.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02183

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - VOTER CHOICE ACT

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     This act would add two (2) members to the voter choice study commission for a total of

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sixteen (16) members. This act would also extend the reporting date of the commission to May 1,

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2013.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC02183

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