AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS (Allows automatic voter registration for Rhode Islanders applying for hunting and fishing licenses.)

S2490

2026 -- S 2490
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LC004657
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

Introduced By:
Senators Dimitri, Thompson, Famiglietti, Patalano, E Morgan, Rogers,
de la Cruz, Paolino, and Appollonio

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 17-9.1 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Voters" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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17-9.1-7.1. Department of environmental management -- Registration to vote.
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(a) Every person applying for a hunting or fishing license or a renewal of either of those
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licenses and who is or may be by the next general election qualified to vote, shall be registered to
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vote, or if previously registered, be afforded the opportunity to change their address for voting
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purposes.
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(b) The application to register to vote shall be offered simultaneously with the application
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for a hunting or fishing license or a license renewal. Department of environmental management
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employees shall provide to applicants for hunting and fishing licenses or their renewal, the same
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level of assistance and instruction with respect to the application to register to vote, as is provided
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with respect to the application for hunting and fishing licenses, or renewal of either of those
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licenses; provided, that one signature may be sufficient on the application for the hunting or fishing
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license, or renewal of either of those licenses and the application to register to vote. The applicant
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shall be afforded the opportunity to decline to register to vote. If previously registered, the applicant
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shall be afforded the opportunity to change the applicant's address for voting purposes. In order to
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protect the privacy of those who decline to register to vote for any reason, the failure of an applicant
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to qualify for a hunting or fishing license may not be used for any purposes, other than to determine
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the person’s voter registration status.

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(c)(1) The voter registration application shall contain the registrant’s name, residence
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address, mailing address if different from residence address, date of birth, and registrant’s signature
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and date of affixation of signature, and may include any other information, certifications, and
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declarations, including those made under the penalty of perjury, that may be required by the state
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board of elections in order to administer a single and unified system of voter registration, in
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accordance with applicable state and federal laws, that enable duly registered voters to vote in all
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elections in their respective voting districts including, elections for federal officers. The voter
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registration application shall also include, in print identical to that used in the attestation portion of
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the form, the following:
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(i) The penalties provided by law for submitting a false voter registration;
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(ii) A statement that, if the applicant declines to register to vote, the applicant's decision
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shall remain confidential and be used only for voter registration purposes; and
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(iii) A statement that, if the applicant does register to vote, information regarding purchase
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of a hunting or fishing license and the location where the license was required shall remain
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confidential, to be used only for voter registration purposes.
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(2) It shall be the responsibility of the department of environmental management to print
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and to have available at all times a sufficient number of voter registration forms necessary to carry
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out the provisions of this section.
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(d) The completed voter registration application shall be transmitted by the department of
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environmental management to the central voter registration system, mandated pursuant to § 17-6-
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1.2 not later than the next business day after the date of acceptance by the department of
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environmental management. Transmission shall be made by electronic means, as prescribed by the
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secretary of state, and shall be in an electronic form, compatible with the voter registration system
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maintained by the secretary of state.
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(e) Any person who has fully and correctly completed an application to register to vote,
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while purchasing a hunting or fishing license, shall be presumed to be registered as of the date of
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the acceptance of the registration by the department of environmental management, subject to
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verification of the registration by the local board, as provided in § 17-9.1-25.
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(f) Pursuant to § 17-9.1-11, the department of environmental management shall not
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transmit the voter registration of any applicant, who fails to certify that they are a citizen of the
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United States.
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(g) If a person who is ineligible to vote becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section,
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that person’s registration shall be presumed to be deemed officially authorized and not be deemed
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attributable to or the fault of that person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, anyone who knowingly

LC004657 - Page 2 of 4
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and willfully provides false information pursuant to this section, shall be subject to prosecution
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under § 17-9.1-12.
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(h) The state board of elections shall have the authority to adopt regulations to implement
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and administer the provisions of this section, including all registrations, completed in conjunction
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with the purchase of a hunting or fishing license.
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(i)(1) In accordance with Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 52
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U.S.C. § 20506, other applicable state government agencies that the secretary verifies already
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collect documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence
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address, may follow the procedures for automatic voter registration enumerated for the department
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of environmental management, as described in subsections (b) through (d) of this section.
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(2) Any additional agencies that are designated for automatic voter registration shall follow
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the rules and protocols established in this section for the department of environmental management.
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(j) Effective date. The provisions of this section shall take effect ninety (90) days after the
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director of the department of environmental management certifies in writing to the general
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assembly, that the department of environmental management's computer system is capable of
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meeting the requirements set forth in this chapter. The director of the department of environmental
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management shall consult with the secretary of state prior to making this determination about the
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computer system.
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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 -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS
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This act would allow automatic voter registration for Rhode Islanders applying for hunting
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and fishing licenses, like the procedures in effect for applicants to the division of motor vehicles.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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