R.I. voters again rejected a constitutional convention question. Time to get rid of it?

Rhode Island labor leaders are looking for at least one state lawmaker to help them finally get rid of the decennial ballot question that nearly 63% of voters rejected in Tuesday’s general election, the highest opposition ever in 40 years.

Ballot Question 1 asked voters if the state should hold a constitutional convention. The question comes up every 10 years in a year ending in 4 because of an amendment that dates back to the 1973 constitutional convention.

Getting rid of it would have to be through either an amendment proposed through a constitutional convention or the General Assembly can place a referendum question on the ballot during any election year.

Rhode Island AFL-CIO Patrick Crowley, whose organization was part of the coalition of 37 unions and civil liberties groups that led the campaign urging voters to reject Question 1, said Thursday afternoon that a discussion about lining up support to eliminate the constitutional question was likely to happen that night during the Institute for Labor Studies and Research 42nd Annual Awards dinner at Bally’s Twin River casino in Lincoln.



https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/11/07/r-i-voters-again-rejected-a-constitutional-convention-question-time-to-get-rid-of-it/