On April 7, the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee voted to hold bill , which would amend the state constitution by removing a policy that requires residents to register to vote a minimum of 30 days before a state election.
At the hearing, Sen. Alana DiMario (D-North Kingstown,鈥� Narragansett, New Shoreham), who sponsored the bill, said that the amendment 鈥渨ould allow the voters of Rhode Island to decide if it is time to remove the outdated 鈥� and longest in the country 鈥� 30-day in advance voter registration deadline from the state constitution.鈥�
鈥淚f approved by the voters, the power would lie with the registration deadline that reflects our modern election technologies and the needs of present-day Rhode Islanders,鈥� she added.
Opponents of the bill testified citing concerns related to residency requirements, credibility and voter apathy.
According to Everton Prospere 鈥�27, vice president of advocacy and community for Every Vote Counts, holding the bill 鈥渋s not an unusual move.鈥� In an email to The Herald, Prospere wrote that most committees hold bills to deliberate 鈥渁fter more extensive research.鈥�
Secretary of State Gregg Amore (D) said at the hearing that same-day voter registration would improve voting accessibility and civic engagement. He also noted that people who become naturalized citizens late in the year might miss the registration deadline, which could exclude a large population from exercising their newly attained rights.
Amore also noted that same-day voter registration has already been implemented for presidential elections. 鈥淎n average of 6000 voters in the last two presidential elections cast a same day vote when they registered 鈥� and the process worked,鈥� he said.
Sandra Johnson, vice president of the in RI, testified that low-income individuals, people of color and young people are more likely to move residences frequently, barring some voters from casting ballots due to missed deadlines.
鈥淎llowing these voters to register on Election Day ensures that new voters or those who have recently moved can update their registration and immediately vote (with a) regular ballot,鈥� Johnson testified.
On behalf of the , Hector Perez-Aponte testified that voting barriers have historically been instituted to disenfranchise women and communities of color.
鈥淚t's just been a hard battle for so many to have that access and that right to vote,鈥� he added. 鈥淏ut this bill, we believe, is a step further in taking down another barrier, allowing (more) individuals to participate in democracy.鈥�
For opponents, the bill threatens the credibility of the voting system as canvassers 鈥渨ill not have the adequate time to vet people properly,鈥� said Sarah Viera, one of two testifiers opposing the amendment. 鈥淲hen bad registrations occur 鈥� who will have to take the responsibility? It will be our local clerks and canvassers.鈥�
Kenneth Atkinson expressed concerns about voter apathy: 鈥淚f you want to vote hard enough for somebody, you鈥檙e going to get out and vote.鈥� While Atkinson supports reducing the voter deadline, he opposes reducing it to less than 鈥渁 few days.鈥�
Another concern was residency requirements, which Viera attributed to the state鈥檚 鈥渋nflated voter rolls.鈥�
She testified that the bill violated three laws: the R.I. General Law , which states that 鈥渁 person鈥檚 residence for voting purposes is (theirs) fixed and established domicile鈥�; , which requires 鈥渟tates to implement procedures to maintain accurate and current voter registration lists鈥� and , which outlines 鈥渞equirements with respect to administration of voter registration.鈥�
Perez-Aponte was the only supporter of the bill to address this claim. 鈥淚 know that there's been concerns (regarding) insecurity towards the election,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat has never been an issue.鈥�
R.I. is one of 15 states with a 28 to 30-day voter registration policy. 鈥淭his makes the state an outlier 鈥� specifically in the Northeast region 鈥� and more comparable to some southern states that, in recent years, have sought to restrict鈥� voting rights, Prospere testified.
R.I. is also one of few states to codify their registration deadline in the state constitution, The Herald previously reported. Now that the bill has been held for further study, the Rhode Island General Assembly can reintroduce this amendment in the next legislative session.
But 鈥渢he only time you can change the state constitution is in an ,鈥� John Marion, executive director of Common Cause R.I., previously told The Herald. At earliest, the referendum will appear on voter ballots in 2028.
Avani Ghosh is a Metro Editor covering politics & justice and community & activism. She is a sophomore from Ohio studying Health & Human Biology and International & Public Affairs. She is an avid earl grey enthusiast and can be found making tea in her free time.
Megan is a Senior Staff Writer covering community and activism in Providence. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she spends her free time drinking coffee and wishing she was Meg Ryan in a Nora Ephron movie.
