2015 -- H 5622

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LC001592

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Marcello, Tanzi, Regunberg, and Hearn

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 17-9.1 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Voters" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     17-9.1-34. Electronic registration of voters. -- (a) The secretary of state shall establish

and maintain a system for online voter registration. Such system shall also permit a registered

elector to apply for changes to such elector's registration. An applicant may register to vote

through this system, provided the applicant's registration information is verifiable in the manner

described in subsection (b) of this section, and his or her signature is in a database described in

subsection (b) such signature may be imported into such system for online voter registration.

     (b) A state agency, upon the request of the secretary of state shall provide any

information the secretary of state deems necessary to maintain the system for online voter

registration. The secretary of state may cross reference the information input into the system by

applicants with data or information contained in any state agency's database or a database

administered by the federal government, or any voter registration database of another state, in

order to verify the information submitted by applicants. The secretary of state shall not use the

information obtained from any such database except to verify information submitted by the

applicant, provided the applicant's signature, if part of data contained in the state agency's

database, shall be included as part of the applicant's information contained in the system for

online voter registration.

     (c) The submission of an online application shall contain all of the information that is

required for an application under § 17-9.1-1, except that a signature shall be obtained from

another state agency's database pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

     (d) In order for an applicant's registration or change in registration to be approved, the

applicant shall mark the box associated with the following statement included as part of the

online application:

     "By clicking on the box below, I swear or affirm all of the following under penalty of

perjury:

     (1) I am the person whose name and identifying information is provided on this form, and

I desire to register to vote in the state of Rhode Island.

     (2) All of the information I have provided on this form is true and correct as of the date I

am submitting this form.

     (3) I authorize the division of motor vehicles or other Rhode Island state agency to

transmit to the secretary of state or my city or town's board of canvassers my signature that is on

file with such agency and understand that such signature will be used by the secretary of state or

my city or town's board of canvassers on this online application for admission as an elector as if I

had signed this form personally."

     (e) Upon approval of such application, the secretary of state shall send a notice of

approval to the elector.

     (f) If an applicant registers to vote pursuant to the provisions of this section after the

fourteenth day before an election or after the fifth day before a primary, the privileges of an

elector shall not attach until the day after such election or primary, as the case may be. In such

event, the secretary of state may contact such applicant, either by telephone or mail, in order to

inform such applicant of the effect of such late received application and any applicable deadline

for applying for admission in person.

     (g) The secretary of state may enter into an agreement to share information or data with

any other state in order to maintain the voter registration system. If an agency of this state,

another state or the federal government provides the secretary of state with information or data to

be used to maintain such system, the secretary of state shall not use such information or data for

any purpose except to maintain such system and shall ensure that such information or data is held

confidential if such information or data, while in the possession of such other agency or state or

federal government, as applicable, was required to be held confidential.

     (h) The secretary of state may provide such information or data to a nonpartisan third-

party vendor for the purpose of maintaining the electronic voter registration system, provided

such vendor's activities are performed under the supervision of the secretary of state and such

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vendor has entered into an agreement to protect the confidentiality of such information or data.

     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 - ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION

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     This act would authorize the state secretary of state to create and administer an electronic

voter registration system.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001592

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