2025 -- H 5137

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Introduced By: Representatives J. Brien, Chippendale, Corvese, Noret, Read, Azzinaro,
Hopkins, Costantino, and Baginski

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     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.

     (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) It shall be unlawful for any individual who is not a citizen of the United States to vote

in any and all public elections on any and all matters. This includes, but is not limited to, any

primary election, general election, election for federal office, election for state office, election for

local office, and any public election that includes voting on constitutional amendments, ballot

initiatives, or referenda.

     (e) Only a citizen of the United States shall be registered to vote in this state pursuant to

the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. The state board of elections shall verify the

citizenship status of all persons on the voter registration list of this state, by comparing the current

voter registrations with the citizenship data available from the state's department of motor vehicles

and the Help America Vote Verification (HAVV) information system maintained by the Social

Security Administration. The board of elections shall also make use of other available databases

containing citizenship status in order to ensure that only United States citizens are registered to

vote in the state.

     (f) Any registrant in the state's voter registration list whose status as a United States citizen

cannot be confirmed from a comparison with one or more state, multistate, or federal databases

shall be removed from the list of eligible voters. The individual shall be notified in writing of the

inability of the board of elections to confirm the individual's citizenship status and shall be provided

the opportunity to present evidence or documentary proof of citizenship to be restored to the eligible

voter list.

     (g) Before any voter registration application is accepted and added to a city, town or

statewide voter registration list, the applicant's citizenship status shall be confirmed through one or

more of the databases described in subsection (e) of this section.

     (h) Any willful infraction of this law shall constitute the crime of fraudulent voting in

violation of § 17-23-4.

     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 provide that the state board of elections shall verify the citizenship status

of all persons on the voter registration list.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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