2014 -- S 2383

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LC004038

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - CONDUCT OF ELECTION/VOTING EQUIPMENT AND

SUPPLIES

     Introduced By: Senators Metts, and Pichardo

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Secretary of State)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-19-24.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct

of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-19-24.2. Voter identification. -- (a) Beginning on January 1, 2012, any Any person

claiming to be a registered and eligible voter who desires to vote at a primary election, special

election or general election shall provide proof of identity. For purposes of this section, proof of

identity shall include:

     (1) A The following valid and current document documents showing a photograph of the

person to whom the document was issued, including without limitation:

     (i) Rhode Island driver's license;

     (ii) Rhode Island voter identification card;

     (iii) United States passport;

     (iv) Identification card issued by a United States educational institution;

     (v) United States military identification card;

     (vi) Identification card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island;

     (vii) Government issued medical card.;

     (viii) Credit or debit card;

     (ix) Public housing identification card; or

     (2) A The following valid and current document documents with or without a photograph

of the person to whom the document was issued, including without limitation:

     (i) Birth certificate;

     (ii) Social security card;

     (iii) Government issued medical card.

     (iv) Document issued by a government agency;

     (v) United States citizenship naturalization papers;

     (vi) Senior citizen identification card.

      (b) From and after January 1, 2014, any person claiming to be a registered and eligible

voter who desires to vote at a primary election, special election or general election shall provide

proof of identity listed in subdivisions (a)(1).

      (c) No later than January 1, 2012, (b) Rhode Island voter identification cards will be

issued upon request, and at no expense to the voters, at locations and in accordance with

procedures established by rules and regulations promulgated by the secretary of state. The

purpose of this section is to provide voter identification cards to those voters who do not possess

the identification listed in subdivision (a)(1).

      (d) (c) If the person claiming to be a registered and eligible voter is unable to provide

proof of identity as required in subdivisions (1) and or (2) above, the person claiming to be a

registered voter shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot pursuant to section 17-19-24.2 upon

completing a provisional ballot voter's certificate and affirmation. The local board shall determine

the validity of the provisional ballot pursuant to section 17-19-24.3.

     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 - CONDUCT OF ELECTION/VOTING EQUIPMENT AND

SUPPLIES

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     This act would add additional photo-identification documents as acceptable proof of

identity for voters as well as additional identification documents with or without a photograph as

acceptable proof of identity for voters at all state and local elections.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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