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S 2132Elections & Voting

S2132 - Rhode Island 2026

Proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the 30-day voter registration requirement, enabling same-day registration, and sets a 30-day candidate residency rule.

Held for study
Population
Affected
35
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This Joint Resolution proposes an amendment to the Rhode Island Constitution to eliminate the current thirty-day state and local residency requirements for voting. If approved by the voters, the amendment would allow individuals to register to vote up to and including Election Day, effectively paving the way for same-day voter registration in the state. The General Assembly would be authorized to enact laws providing for shorter residency and registration requirements for all elections.

Additionally, the amendment introduces a new requirement for political candidates. It stipulates that no person is eligible to file a declaration of candidacy unless they have been a qualified elector in Rhode Island for at least thirty days.

The proposed amendment will be submitted to the voters at the next statewide general election. If a majority of electors approve the proposition, the changes to Article II, Sections 1 and 2 of the Constitution would take effect on January 1, 2027.

For younger readers

This bill asks voters to approve a change to the state constitution about voting. It would let people register to vote on the exact same day as an election instead of having to wait 30 days. It also says people running for office must have been registered voters in the state for at least 30 days.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Rhode Island votersNew state residentsPolitical candidatesLocal election officialsSecretary of State

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. The bill itself is a mechanism to amend the state constitution using the legally prescribed process (submitting a joint resolution to the voters). It does not conflict with federal constitutional law, which generally favors fewer restrictions on voting.

Estimated cost
Not specified
Estimated revenue
Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Expands access to the ballot box by enabling same-day voter registration.
  • Removes arbitrary 30-day residency waiting periods that can disenfranchise recent movers.
  • Likely increases overall voter turnout and democratic participation, especially among younger and lower-income voters.
  • The 30-day residency requirement for candidates restricts newcomers from running for office immediately.
  • Requires voters to approve the amendment rather than enacting it directly through statute.
  • Still relies on the General Assembly to pass enabling legislation to fully implement the new registration timelines.
For Conservatives
  • Establishes a strict 30-day residency requirement for political candidates to ensure they have local ties.
  • Maintains the constitutional prohibition on voting for incarcerated felons.
  • Preserves the General Assembly's authority to define residence for voting purposes to prevent abuse and fraud.
  • Same-day registration may increase the risk of voter fraud or administrative errors on Election Day.
  • Removing the 30-day residency requirement makes it harder to verify a voter's true residence and community ties.
  • Places significant additional administrative burdens on local election officials during busy election days.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 8 additions · 8 deletions

RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed to the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the Constitution, for their approval, and that it take the place of Article II, Sections 1 and 2, which are hereby amended, effective January 1, 2027, to read as follows: ARTICLE II OF SUFFRAGE

SECTION 1. Persons entitled to vote. Every citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years or over who has had residence and home in is a resident of this state for thirty days next preceding the time of voting, who has resided thirty days and resides in the town or city from which such citizen desires to vote, and whose name shall be registered at least thirty days next preceding the time of voting as provided by law, shall have the right to vote for all offices to be elected and on all questions submitted to the electors, except that no person who has been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos mentis shall be permitted to vote. No person who is incarcerated in a correctional facility upon a felony conviction shall be permitted to vote until such person is discharged from the facility. Upon discharge, such person’s right to vote shall be restored. The general assembly may provide by law for shorter state and local residence and registration requirements to vote for all offices to be elected and on all questions submitted to the electors for president and vice president of the United States.

SECTION 2. Nomination of candidates — Voter registration — Absentee voting — Conduct of elections — Residency. The general assembly shall provide by law for the nomination of candidates, but no person shall be eligible to file a declaration of candidacy who has not been a qualified elector in Rhode Island for at least thirty (30) days; for a uniform system of permanent registration of voters; for the exemption from such registration of persons in the active service of the nation and their families absent from the state because of such service, and, in time of war, members of the Merchant Marine; for absentee and shut in voting; for the time, manner and place of conducting elections; for the prevention of abuse, corruption and fraud in voting; and may define by law residence for voting purposes, but no person shall acquire such residence merely by being stationed or assigned in this state in the active service of the United States.

RESOLVED, That this amendment shall take, in the Constitution of the State, the place of Section 1 and Section 2 of Article II of the Constitution; It is further

RESOLVED, That said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for general officers of the state; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendments to be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town, ward, or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or district meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town, ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.