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Bill

SB 2304

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- RESIDENCE OF INDIVIDUALS IN GOVERNMENT CUSTODY ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 9 co-sponsors

Bill establishes residency rules for voting eligibility among individuals in government custody, potentially shifting representation away from facility locations to home communities.

04/07/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2304

Legislative bill overview

SB 2304 addresses voting residency requirements for individuals in government custody, such as those incarcerated in prisons or detained in state facilities. The bill appears to establish or clarify where such individuals are considered to legally reside for voting purposes, rather than defaulting to their pre-incarceration addresses or the facility location. This affects voter registration, ballot delivery, and electoral representation.

Why is this important

Voting residency determinations directly impact which electoral districts count an individual's vote and influence local representation and population counts used for redistricting. Currently, many states count incarcerated people as residents of the prison location rather than their home communities, which can skew representation and dilute voting power in their actual communities of origin. This bill would shift that framework in Rhode Island's context.

Potential points of contention

  • Prisoner voting rights debate: Fundamental disagreement exists over whether incarcerated individuals should vote at all, with some viewing it as inconsistent with criminal justice consequences and others viewing disenfranchisement as excessive punishment
  • Representation and redistricting: Counting incarcerated people in their home districts rather than prison locations could shift political power and resource allocation between urban and rural areas
  • Practical implementation: Determining "true residence" for transient or homeless individuals, or those with no fixed pre-custody address, presents administrative challenges

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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