2024 -- H 8017

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LC005415

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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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 PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- OF SUFFRAGE

     Introduced By: Representatives Quattrocchi, Chippendale, Nardone, Place, Rea, and
Roberts

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2024

     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 the place of Article II, Section 1, which is hereby

amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE II

OF SUFFRAGE

     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,

and except also that no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be permitted to vote

in this state. 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

pf Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That 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 amendments

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 electors 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 PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- OF SUFFRAGE

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     This Joint Resolution would propose to the voters of the state a constitutional amendment

which would provide that no person who is not a citizen of the United States would be allowed to

vote in this state.

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