PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Forty years have passed since Rhode Island voters last approved a constitutional convention. This November, the question will make its return to the ballot.
Every decade, Rhode Islanders have the opportunity to decide whether delegates will propose or revise amendments to the state’s constitution. Then, those amendments are subsequently placed on the ballot for voters to approve.
The last three times a constitutional convention was on the ballot — in 1994, 2004 and 2014 — voters rejected the idea.
Some prefer to keep it that way.
On Wednesday afternoon, a group launched its campaign during a press conference urging voters to “Reject Question 1.”
“Question 1” on the general election ballot will be displayed as follows:
“Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the Constitution?”
The group, R.I. Citizens for Responsible Government, is a statewide coalition of individuals and organizations that aims to “oppose this ballot measure and to urge a ‘no’ vote in November on the calling of a convention,” according to its website, RejectQuestion1.com .
Rhode Island ACLU Director Steven Brown is adamantly opposed to holding a constitutional convention, arguing that it could be detrimental to women and minority groups.
“We’re very concerned that we could once again see anti-abortion amendments come up, especially since the General Assembly here has protected that right, so it would require a constitutional amendment to undo that,” Brown said. “We can see amendments that are designed to take away the rights of the LGBTQ community, the rights of immigrants. These are all hot-button issues across the country.”
Other Rhode Islanders, like author and two-time gubernatorial candidate Ken Block, believe a convention is “dramatically overdue.”
“We have some basic problems with how Rhode Island government functions, that the powers that be don’t want to change,” Block explained.
North Kingstown state Rep. Robert Craven (D) stressed the importance of Rhode Islanders having a seat at the table.
“Times change, and so do the issues the public deeply cares about. We are living in a very different state than we did in 1986 when the last constitutional convention was held,” Craven said. “It is vitally important that the public has the opportunity to decide whether or not our state constitution needs to be updated.”
Ahead of the consequential question, the R.I. General Assembly established a 12-member bipartisan commission to create a report covering what types of issues a constitutional convention could address if approved. The commission is required to disclose its findings by Sept. 1.
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