2012 -- H 7853

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LC01984

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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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 A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (SUFFRAGE)

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Slater, and McCauley

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2012

     Referred To: House Judiciary

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     RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general

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assembly voting therefore, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed

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to the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the

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Constitution for their approval and that it take the place of Article II, section 1, which is hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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      ARTICLE II

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     OF SUFFRAGE

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     Section 1. Persons entitled to vote. -- Every citizen of the United States of the age of

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eighteen years or over who has had residence and home in this state for thirty days next preceding

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the time of voting, who has resided thirty days in the town or city from which such citizen desires

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to vote, and whose name shall be registered at least thirty days next preceding the time of voting

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as provided by law, shall have the right to vote for all offices to be elected and on all questions

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submitted to the electors, except that no person who has been lawfully adjudicated to be non

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compos mentis shall be permitted to vote. Every permanent legal resident alien of the United

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States of the age of eighteen years or over who has had residence and home in this state for thirty

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days next preceding the time of voting, who has resided thirty days in the town or city from

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which such citizen desires to vote, and whose name shall be registered at least thirty days next

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preceding the time of voting as provided by law, shall have the right to vote for all statewide and

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local offices to be elected and on statewide and local questions submitted to the electors, except

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that no person who has been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos mentis shall be permitted to

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vote. No person who is incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction shall be

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permitted to vote until such person is discharged from the facility. Upon discharge, such person's

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right to vote shall be restored. The general assembly may provide by law for shorter state and

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local residence requirements to vote for electors for president and vice president of the United

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States.

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     RESOLVED, That this amendment shall take, in the Constitution of the state, the place of

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

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     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors

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for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the

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several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for

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general officers of the state; and

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     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendment to

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be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said

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meeting of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices to

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be issued previous to said meeting of the electors for the purpose of warning the city, town, ward,

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or district meetings and said proposition shall be read by the city, town, ward or district meetings

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to be held as aforesaid; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the city, town, ward or district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be

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warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said city, town, ward and

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district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the city,

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town, ward and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.

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LC01984

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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 A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (SUFFRAGE)

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     This proposed constitutional amendment would, if approved by the voters, amend the

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Rhode Island Constitution to entitle a legal permanent resident to vote in all statewide and local

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elections.

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LC01984

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