Rhode Island

Politics and pictures: Rhode Island and its new voter ID law

Election Law Society · December 30, 2011 ·

In elections past, Rhode Island has not required photo identification for a ballot to be counted. However, with the passage of a new law the state has at least superficially joined the ranks of states which have approved legislation that will hamper the voting rights of its most vulnerable citizens. Yet the truth may not be so simple. Rhode Island’s law is less restrictive and more benign than legislation passed by other states which may explain the unique politics behind the passage of RI’s new photo identification bill.

The law will be implemented in two stages. “The first stage will require non-photo ID beginning Jan. 1, 2012. The second stage will require photo ID beginning Jan. 1, 2014.”

For the upcoming 2012 election, voters are able to vote by establishing their identity through possession of forms of ID that do not have their photo, “including without limitation”: a birth certificate, social security card, or government-issued medical card. The language “without limitation” can reasonably be construed as meaning that “any current photo identification that includes the name and photograph of the voter will be accepted.” [Read more…] about Politics and pictures: Rhode Island and its new voter ID law

The Runoff Debate Intensifies in Rhode Island Following Governor’s Race

Election Law Society · April 13, 2011 ·

Lincoln Chafee, a former United States Senator, emerged as the winner of this year’s Rhode Island gubernatorial race. Chafee received only 36% of the vote in a close election that featured three viable candidates. Additionally, a fourth candidate finished with 6.5% of the vote, which represents about twice the amount of Chafee’s margin of victory. Few can argue that Governor-elect Chaffee lacks the experience necessary to govern, but the real question in Rhode Island is whether a candidate who receives less than 40% of the vote should be deemed the winner of a statewide election. Some states’ laws require an additional runoff election that whittles down the number of candidates when no one candidate receives a majority. Many Rhode Islanders, including term-limited outgoing Governor Donald Carcieri, called for the institution of a runoff election following this year’s race. [Read more…] about The Runoff Debate Intensifies in Rhode Island Following Governor’s Race

One Stop Shopping: Rhode Island Initiative Registers Voters at Work

Election Law Society · January 19, 2011 ·

The Newport Mansions, Family Guy, Brown University and the Farrelly brothers are a few of the Ocean State’s more notable features. To this list, we may soon add “Innovative Voter Registration.” Rhode Island Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis launched “Voters in the Workplace” in the summer of 2008. This initiative encourages and enables companies to host voter registration drives during normal business hours between August and October every year. These months include the registration deadlines for both the state primary and general elections. The Secretary of State’s office markets the program through social media and direct mail while working with Rhode Island’s chamber of commerce network and trade organizations for human resources managers.

So how does it work? A company contacts the Secretary of State’s office and expresses interest in hosting a voter registration drive for its employees. In the weeks leading up to the drive the company generally sends out e-mails notifying its workers, posts links to registration forms on their intranet, and displays voter registration posters. The Secretary of State’s Office supplies the company with all of these materials electronically, even the e-mail template. Some companies do more: Cox Communications in West Warwick ran promotions on its closed-circuit television network. On the day of the drive, staff members from the Secretary of State’s office travel to the company and conduct the voter registration. A drive is usually held in the cafeteria or another gathering space in the workplace during regularly scheduled breaks, lunch, or directly after work. Staff time spent on a typical registration, including travel, is about two hours. Chris Barnett of the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s press office indicated there is no discrete budget for the program and “the investment is simply routine overhead.” Dozens of companies have partnered with the Secretary of State’s office since the program began two years ago. [Read more…] about One Stop Shopping: Rhode Island Initiative Registers Voters at Work

Weekly Wrap Up

Election Law Society · January 8, 2010 ·

Every week, State of Elections brings you the latest news in state election law.

– Winter break at William and Mary is over, and State of Elections is excited to return to a full time posting schedule. New articles will be posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, beginning on January 11th.

– Senator Chris Dodd has announced he will not seek reelection in 2010. During his time in the Senate, Dodd proposed some sweeping changes to voter registration laws. Take a look at S. 17, Dodd’s proposed “Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act of 2005”. If it had been passed, S. 17 would have required states to allow voters to register on election day, and also would have enabled voters to register electronically via the Internet.

– The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the disenfranchisement of felons violates the federal Voting Rights Act. According to the court, the criminal justice system is so “infected” with racism that limiting the right of felons to vote is contrary to the Act’s prohibition against the denial of voting rights on account of race. The court’s opinion can be read in full here.

– The Rhode Island Senate and House has enacted legislation allowing 16 and 17 year olds to “pre-register” to vote. Those that pre-register will be automatically added to the voter rolls will they turn 18. The bill had been previously vetoed by Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, but the veto was overridden by the legislature. For more information on pre-registration, see FairVote.org’s fact sheet.