2019 -- S 0319 | |
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LC000482 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ELECTIONS –- GENERAL PROVISIONS –- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Valverde, Lawson, Murray, and McCaffrey | |
Date Introduced: February 13, 2019 | |
Referred To: Senate Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 17-1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-1 entitled "General |
2 | Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 17-1-3. Eligibility to vote. |
4 | Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen (18) years of age, whose |
5 | residence as defined in § 17-1-3.1 has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, and in the |
6 | town or city and voting district in which that person desires to cast his or her vote at least thirty |
7 | (30) days next preceding the election, and who is registered in that city or town and voting district |
8 | at least thirty (30) days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote in the election; |
9 | provided, a person may vote in a primary election only if that person is eligible under the |
10 | provisions of this title and will have reached eighteen (18) years of age on or before the date of |
11 | the election immediately following the primary. A person who has not registered to vote, or |
12 | whose registration has been canceled pursuant to § 17-10-1, may cast a vote for president and |
13 | vice-president on election day at his or her city or town hall or at an alternate location designated |
14 | by the board of canvassers, and approved by the board of elections, where such location is |
15 | deemed necessary to better accommodate such voters. The casting of that vote shall commence |
16 | the process of voter registration and subject the person voting to the requirements and penalties of |
17 | this chapter. |
18 | SECTION 2. Section 17-9.1-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-9.1 entitled |
19 | "Registration of Voters" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
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1 | 17-9.1-33. Age. |
2 | (a) Every person who has reached the age of eighteen (18) years or who is seventeen (17) |
3 | years of age and will be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, and is |
4 | otherwise qualified to register may do so for that election. |
5 | (b) A person who is otherwise qualified to register and is at least sixteen (16) years of |
6 | age, but will not be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, may preregister |
7 | upon satisfactory proof of age and shall be automatically registered upon reaching eighteen (18) |
8 | years of age. |
9 | (c) Any person meeting the requirements as set forth in § 17-1-3 and who will be |
10 | eighteen (18) years of age on or before the date of a general election may vote in the primary |
11 | election immediately preceding that general election. |
12 | SECTION 3. 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 –- GENERAL PROVISIONS –- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS | |
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1 | This act allows an individual who is eligible to vote and turns eighteen (18) years of age |
2 | on or before the date of a general election to vote in the primary election immediately preceding |
3 | that general election. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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