2024 -- S 2895

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LC005704

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Mack, DiMario, Bissaillon, Gu, and Acosta

     Date Introduced: March 22, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-1-3. Eligibility to vote. [Effective January 1, 2024.]

     (a) Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen (18) years of age, whose

residence as defined in § 17-1-3.1 has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, and in the town

or city and voting district in which that person desires to cast his or her vote at least thirty (30) days

next preceding the election, and who is registered in that city or town and voting district at least

thirty (30) days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote in the election; provided, a

person may vote in a primary election only if that person is eligible under the provisions of this

title. A person who has not registered to vote, or whose registration has been canceled pursuant to

§ 17-10-1, may cast a vote for president and vice-president on election day at the person’s city or

town hall or at an alternate location designated by the board of canvassers, and approved by the

board of elections, where such location is deemed necessary to better accommodate such voters.

The casting of that vote shall commence the process of voter registration and subject the person

voting to the requirements and penalties of this chapter.

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who has

not yet reached age eighteen (18), but will be age eighteen (18) at the time of a general election,

may vote in a primary election, in which candidates are nominated for a general or special election.

     (c) The provisions of subsection (b) shall not extend to any other elections.

     (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any city or town with

an elected school committee may provide, by ordinance, referendum, or other mechanism at the

municipality’s discretion, that every citizen of the city or town who is at least sixteen (16) years of

age, and whose residence as defined in this section has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days,

may register to vote in school committee elections in the city or town in which they reside, and if

registered at least thirty (30) days next preceding any school committee election, is entitled to vote

in said election.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

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     This act would allow citizens of a city or town who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to

register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school

committees are elected entities.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005704

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