Bill Sponsors
Felix, Cruz, McNamara, Kislak, Diaz, Giraldo, Stewart, Donovan, Morales, and Furtado
Committee
House State Government & Elections
Summary
Select
This legislation grants cities and towns in Rhode Island the authority to lower the voting age for local school committee elections. Specifically, a municipality with an elected school committee can pass an ordinance or hold a referendum to allow residents who are at least sixteen years old to register and vote in those specific elections. These younger voters must still meet the standard residency requirements, living in the state and the specific town for at least thirty days prior to the election. This does not apply to other types of elections.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Empowers youth by giving students a direct democratic voice in the educational policies and systems that impact their daily lives and future opportunities.
- Fosters a culture of civic engagement at an earlier age, potentially creating lifelong voting habits and a more active, informed citizenry within the community.
- Acknowledges that many sixteen and seventeen-year-olds contribute to the economy and pay taxes on their earnings, thereby addressing the principle of representation for contributing members of society.
Cons for Progressives
- Creates a patchwork system of voting rights where youth in some municipalities are empowered while those in others remain disenfranchised, potentially exacerbating inequality based on geography.
- Limits the franchise expansion solely to school committees, failing to recognize the stake young people have in broader municipal issues like public transit, policing, and environmental protection.
- Relies on local political will to be enacted, which means students in more conservative or disadvantaged districts may be less likely to see these rights implemented compared to affluent or liberal areas.
Pros for Conservatives
- Respects the principle of local control by ensuring the state does not mandate this change, leaving the decision entirely to individual municipalities and their taxpayers.
- Strictly limits the scope of the voting expansion to school committees, ensuring that minors cannot vote on town budgets, mayoral races, or state and federal offices.
- Maintains strict residency and registration requirements, ensuring that election integrity is preserved and that only established residents of the district can participate.
Cons for Conservatives
- Undermines traditional social values and legal standards by extending voting rights to minors who are not legally considered adults and lack the life experience or maturity to make complex policy decisions.
- Opens the door for public school unions and activist teachers to indoctrinate and manipulate students into voting for candidates who support higher taxes and radical curriculum changes.
- Creates a slippery slope that liberals will use to argue for lowering the voting age in state and federal elections, eventually diluting the votes of responsible, tax-paying adults.
Constitutional Concerns
The Rhode Island Constitution (Article II, Section 1) grants the right to vote to citizens "of the age of eighteen." While it does not explicitly use the word "only," courts generally interpret constitutional age qualifications as setting the standard. Allowing municipalities to alter voter qualifications could be seen as unconstitutional without a statewide constitutional amendment. Furthermore, applying different voting ages in different towns for the same type of office could raise Equal Protection concerns.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds
- School Committee Candidates
- Local Boards of Canvassers
- Parents of teenagers
- Teachers Unions
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/14/2026 Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 17-1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-1 entitled "General Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
17-1-3. Eligibility to vote.
(a) Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen (18) years of age, whose residence as defined in § 17-1-3.1 has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, and in the town or city and voting district in which that person desires to cast his or her vote at least thirty (30) days next preceding the election, and who is registered in that city or town and voting district at least thirty (30) days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote in the election; provided, a person may vote in a primary election only if that person is eligible under the provisions of this title. A person who has not registered to vote, or whose registration has been canceled pursuant to § 17-10-1, may cast a vote for president and vice-president on election day at the person’s city or town hall or at an alternate location designated by the board of canvassers, and approved by the board of elections, where such location is deemed necessary to better accommodate such voters. The casting of that vote shall commence the process of voter registration and subject the person voting to the requirements and penalties of this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who has not yet reached age eighteen (18), but will be age eighteen (18) at the time of a general election, may vote in a primary election, in which candidates are nominated for a general or special election.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) shall not extend to any other elections.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any city or town with an elected school committee may provide by ordinance, referendum, or other mechanism at the municipality’s discretion, that every citizen of the city or town, who is at least sixteen (16) years of age, and whose residence as defined in this section, has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, may register to vote in school committee elections in the city or town in which they reside, and if registered at least thirty (30) days next preceding any school committee election, is entitled to vote in said election.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
17-1-3. Eligibility to vote.
(a) Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen (18) years of age, whose residence as defined in § 17-1-3.1 has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, and in the town or city and voting district in which that person desires to cast his or her vote at least thirty (30) days next preceding the election, and who is registered in that city or town and voting district at least thirty (30) days next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote in the election; provided, a person may vote in a primary election only if that person is eligible under the provisions of this title. A person who has not registered to vote, or whose registration has been canceled pursuant to § 17-10-1, may cast a vote for president and vice-president on election day at the person’s city or town hall or at an alternate location designated by the board of canvassers, and approved by the board of elections, where such location is deemed necessary to better accommodate such voters. The casting of that vote shall commence the process of voter registration and subject the person voting to the requirements and penalties of this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who has not yet reached age eighteen (18), but will be age eighteen (18) at the time of a general election, may vote in a primary election, in which candidates are nominated for a general or special election.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) shall not extend to any other elections.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any city or town with an elected school committee may provide by ordinance, referendum, or other mechanism at the municipality’s discretion, that every citizen of the city or town, who is at least sixteen (16) years of age, and whose residence as defined in this section, has been in this state for at least thirty (30) days, may register to vote in school committee elections in the city or town in which they reside, and if registered at least thirty (30) days next preceding any school committee election, is entitled to vote in said election.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.