Allows automatic voter registration for Rhode Islanders applying for hunting and fishing licenses.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would add hunting and fishing license applications to Rhode Island's automatic voter registration system. Currently, when Rhode Islanders interact with certain government agencies — like the DMV — their information can automatically be used to register them to vote (or update their registration) unless they opt out. This bill would extend that same process to people applying for hunting and fishing licenses through the state.

Under this proposal, when a Rhode Islander applies for a hunting or fishing license, their eligibility information would be shared with election officials. If they are eligible and not already registered, they would be automatically added to the voter rolls. People who do not want to be registered this way would have the option to decline.

This bill would primarily affect Rhode Islanders who hunt or fish and are not yet registered to vote — or whose registration information may be outdated. It is designed to make voter registration more convenient by connecting it to a process people are already going through with the state government. It would not change who is eligible to vote or any other election rules.

The bill has been introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing. It has not yet been voted on or become law.