2018 -- S 2703

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LC004835

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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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 FOR GENERAL OFFICERS' ELECTION)

     

     Introduced By: Senators Morgan, Paolino, Raptakis, and Cote

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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

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State is intended to provide that successful candidates for state general offices have received a

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majority of votes cast; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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2019, to read as follows:

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     ARTICLE IV

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     OF ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE

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     Section 2. Election by plurality Election by majority or plurality. -- In all elections of

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

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

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between the top two (2) vote-getters shall be held. The candidate receiving the largest number of

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votes cast in the runoff election shall be declared elected.

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     In all other elections held by the people for other state, officers, and for city, town, ward

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or district officers, the person or candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast shall be

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declared elected.

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

 

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

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

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general officers of the state; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendment to

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

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

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meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further

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

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

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

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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 FOR GENERAL OFFICERS' ELECTION)

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     This proposed constitutional amendment would provide for a run-off election between

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the top two vote getters for each general office if no candidate has received a majority.

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LC004835

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