2016 -- S 2834

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LC005471

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,

AND SUPPLIES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Miller, Jabour, and Conley

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby repealed.

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

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

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

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identity shall include:

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      (1) A valid and current document showing a photograph of the person to whom the

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document was issued, including without limitation:

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      (i) Rhode Island driver's license;

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      (ii) Rhode Island voter identification card;

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      (iii) United States passport;

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

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      (v) United States military identification card;

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

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      (vii) Government issued medical card.

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      (2) A valid and current document without a photograph of the person to whom the

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document was issued, including without limitation:

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      (i) Birth certificate;

 

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      (ii) Social security card;

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      (iii) Government issued medical card.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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section is to provide voter identification cards to those voters who do not possess the

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identification listed in subdivision (a)(1).

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

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

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voter shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot pursuant to § 17-19-24.2 upon completing a

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provisional ballot voter's certificate and affirmation. The local board shall determine the validity

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of the provisional ballot pursuant to § 17-19-24.3.

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     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 AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,

AND SUPPLIES

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     This act would repeal the voter identification law.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005471

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