2015 -- S 0436

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LC001620

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS--A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MAJORITY VOTE

REQUIREMENT THROUGH INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING FOR GENERAL OFFICERS'

ELECTION)

     Introduced By: Senators Morgan, Kettle, Gee, Lombardi, and E O`Neill

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     WHEREAS, The proposed amendment to Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution of the

State is intended to ensure that successful candidates for state general offices receive a majority

of votes cast;

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

assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the State be proposed

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

Constitution for their approval and the following section is hereby amended, effective January 1,

2017, to read as follows:

     ARTICLE IV

     OF ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE

     Section 2. Election by majority or plurality. – In all elections held by the people for state

general officers, only those persons or candidates receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be

declared elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, then an instant runoff

voting system shall be employed to determine the winner of the election. In all other elections

held by the people for state, city, town, ward or district officers, the person or candidate receiving

the largest number of votes cast shall be declared elected.

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

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

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

general officers of the state; and be if further

     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendments

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

said meetings of the said electors and the said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or

district meetings to be held as a foresaid; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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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, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS--A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MAJORITY VOTE

REQUIREMENT THROUGH INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING FOR GENERAL OFFICERS'

ELECTION)

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     This proposed amendment to the state constitution, if approved, would require that all

winning candidates for election to general office receive a majority of the votes cast. If no

candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, then an instant runoff voting system would be

employed to determine the winner of the election.

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