2020 -- S 2436

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LC004367

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Goldin, Euer, Coyne, and Metts

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-1-3. Eligibility to vote.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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provisions of this title. A person who has not registered to vote, or whose registration has been

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canceled pursuant to § 17-10-1, may cast a vote for president and vice-president on election day

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at his or her city or town hall or at an alternate location designated by the board of canvassers,

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and approved by the board of elections, where such location is deemed necessary to better

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accommodate such voters. The casting of that vote shall commence the process of voter

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registration and subject the person voting to the requirements and penalties of this chapter.

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     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who has

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not yet reached eighteen (18) years of age may vote in a primary election, in which candidates are

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nominated for a general or special election, that will occur when the individual is eighteen (18)

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years of age.

 

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     (c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not extend to any other elections.

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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 -- ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE

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     This act would allow individuals, who have not reached the age of eighteen (18) years, to

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vote in a primary election, as long as the voter will be eighteen (18) as of the date of the general

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or special election.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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