2018 -- H 7342

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LC004238

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,

AND SUPPLIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Ajello, Handy, Regunberg, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

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of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby repealed.

     17-19-24.2. Voter identification.

     (a) Beginning on January 1, 2012, 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 valid and current document 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.

     (2) A valid and current document 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.

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

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

voter shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot pursuant to § 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 § 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 AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,

AND SUPPLIES

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     This act would repeal the voter identification law, which required voters to prove their

identity with written documents before they would be allowed to vote.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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