Rhode Island Senate Bill S2447

Rhode Island 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/24
• Refer: 2/12/24
• Report Pass: 3/7/24
• Engrossed: 3/14/24
• Refer: 3/15/24
• Report Pass: 5/23/24
• Enrolled: 5/30/24
• Passed: 6/4/24

Caption

Amends certain election statutes to require ballot questions be written in plain language reasonably calculated to be understood by persons with an eighth-grade reading level.

Impact

The passage of S2447 would have significant implications for the way that ballot measures are drafted and presented to the public. With the requirement that all ballot questions are comprehensible to those with an eighth-grade reading level, it is expected that the Secretary of State will need to rephrase complex legislative language. This change not only enhances transparency in the electoral process but also promotes accountability among lawmakers, as they will need to craft legislation that can be easily translated into accessible ballot language. Moreover, the act would require that detailed explanations accompany each measure, ensuring that voters are adequately informed about the implications of their votes.

Summary

Bill S2447, introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly, aims to amend certain election statutes related to statewide referenda elections. The primary objective of the bill is to ensure that ballot questions are presented in plain language that is accessible to voters, specifically at a reading level that an eighth grader can understand. This initiative seeks to increase voter comprehension and participation by allowing all citizens, regardless of their educational background, to clearly understand the questions they are voting on. By doing so, S2447 aims to create a more informed electorate and improve the overall democratic process in the state.

Contention

While the bill is widely viewed as a move towards greater inclusivity in the electoral process, some critics may argue that simplifying ballot language could lead to oversimplification of complex issues, potentially omitting important legal and contextual details. Debates surrounding the potential loss of nuance in the presentation of ballot measures are acknowledged, where opponents might propose that the intricacies of certain public questions cannot be effectively conveyed in a straightforward manner without sacrificing essential information. Nonetheless, supporters assert that the emphasis on clarity is paramount, as confusion among voters could result in apathy or erroneous voting, thereby diluting the integrity of the electoral outcomes.