Legislation

We supported a repeal of this law which requires all voters in RI to present photo ID at the polls on Election Day, noting that it presents an unnecessary barrier to eligible voters who may not have ready access to a photo ID.

The ACLU once again supported legislation to permanently rectify a disparity in voter representation and require all incarcerated individuals to be counted, for voting purposes only, at their last known address.

Following 2020’s extraordinary voter turnout after the implementation of early in-person voting and less burdensome mail ballot procedures, we supported comprehensive legislation which would codify some of these voting processes for all future elections.

We supported this proposed constitutional amendment which would remove the state Constitution’s onerous requirement that bars individuals from voting in an election, except for President, unless they have registered to vote at least 30 days in advance, one of the longest time periods in the country.

Throughout the redistricting process – by which legislative districts are redrawn in Rhode Island every ten years – our organization has been vigilantly defending the need to simultaneously address the issue of prison gerrymandering.

We supported a bill which will allow for classified employees to seek nomination or become a candidate for elective state office and require their resignation from employment only if they win the election.

In addition to commenting on the importance of properly apportioned districts as a component of voting rights and racial justice, we urged several amendments to bills which would create a commissions charged with the task redrawing district lines.

We supported a repeal of the RI Voter ID law, noting that it presents an unnecessary barrier to eligible voters who may not have ready access to a photo ID.

This comprehensive legislation, supported by the ACLU and more than two dozen other advocacy groups, was introduced to build upon the successfully implemented changes of the 2020 election cycle.