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

     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:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-1 entitled "General

Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-1-3. Eligibility to vote.

     Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen (18) years of age, whose

residence as defined in § 17-1-3.1 has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, and in the

town or city and voting district in which that person desires to cast his or her vote at least thirty

(30) days next preceding the election, and who is registered in that city or town and voting district

at least thirty (30) days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote in the election;

provided, a person may vote in a primary election only if that person is eligible under the

provisions of this title and will have reached eighteen (18) years of age on or before the date of

the election immediately following the primary. A person who has not registered to vote, or

whose registration has been canceled pursuant to § 17-10-1, may cast a vote for president and

vice-president on election day at his or her city or town hall or at an alternate location designated

by the board of canvassers, and approved by the board of elections, where such location is

deemed necessary to better accommodate such voters. The casting of that vote shall commence

the process of voter registration and subject the person voting to the requirements and penalties of

this chapter.

     SECTION 2. Section 17-9.1-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-9.1 entitled

"Registration of Voters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-9.1-33. Age.

     (a) Every person who has reached the age of eighteen (18) years or who is seventeen (17)

years of age and will be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, and is

otherwise qualified to register may do so for that election.

     (b) A person who is otherwise qualified to register and is at least sixteen (16) years of

age, but will not be eighteen (18) years of age by the date of the next election, may preregister

upon satisfactory proof of age and shall be automatically registered upon reaching eighteen (18)

years of age.

     (c) Any person meeting the requirements as set forth in § 17-1-3 and who will be

eighteen (18) years of age on or before the date of a general election may vote in the primary

election immediately preceding that general election.

     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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     This act allows an individual who is eligible to vote and turns eighteen (18) years of age

on or before the date of a general election to vote in the primary election immediately preceding

that general election.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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