The bill amends Section 17-1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-1, titled "General Provisions," to enhance the verification of citizenship for voter registration in the state. It establishes that only U.S. citizens are eligible to register and vote in public elections, including primary elections, general elections, elections for federal, state, and local offices, as well as any public elections involving constitutional amendments, ballot initiatives, or referenda.

The state board of elections is mandated to verify the citizenship status of all individuals on the voter registration list by comparing current voter registrations with citizenship data from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles and the Help America Vote Verification (HAVV) information system maintained by the Social Security Administration, along with other available databases containing citizenship status.

Any registrant whose citizenship status cannot be confirmed through these comparisons will be removed from the eligible voter list and notified in writing of the inability to confirm their citizenship status. They will be provided the opportunity to present evidence or documentary proof of citizenship to be restored to the eligible voter list.

Additionally, the bill states that before any voter registration application is accepted, the applicant's citizenship status must be confirmed through the specified databases. Any willful infraction of this law will constitute the crime of fraudulent voting, in violation of 17-23-4. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5137: 17-1-3