2023 -- S 0638

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LC001883

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Pearson, Valverde, Lawson, Gallo, Acosta, and Zurier

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2023

     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 town

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or city and voting district in which that person desires to cast his or her vote at least thirty (30) days

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next preceding the election, and who is registered in that city or town and voting district at least

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

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person may vote in a primary election only if that person is eligible under the provisions of this

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title. A person who has not registered to vote, or whose registration has been canceled pursuant to

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§ 17-10-1, may cast a vote for president and vice-president on election day at his or her city or town

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hall or at an alternate location designated by the board of canvassers, and approved by the board of

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elections, where such location is deemed necessary to better accommodate such voters. The casting

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of that vote shall commence the process of voter registration and subject the person voting to the

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requirements and penalties of this chapter.

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     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 17-1-3(a), any city or town with an elected school

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committee may provide, by ordinance, referendum, or other mechanism at the municipality’s

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discretion, that every citizen of the city or town who is at least sixteen (16) years of age, and whose

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residence as defined in § 17-1-3 has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, may register to

 

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vote in school committee elections in the city or town in which they reside, and if registered at

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least thirty (30) days next preceding any school committee election, is entitled to vote in said

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election.

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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 -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

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     This act would allow citizens of a city or town who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to

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register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school

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committees are elected entities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001883

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