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Carcieri Vetoes Teen Voting Bill

Chris Boardman

Story Created: Jul 10, 2009 at 6:10 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 10, 2009 at 6:10 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island's governor has vetoed a bill that would let 16- and 17-year-olds register to vote.

It's the fourth time that Gov. Don Carcieri has vetoed the legislation.

The bill would have let teens "pre-register" to vote, with their registration automatically becoming active when they reach 18.

Rep. Edwin Pacheco, D-Burrillville, who introduced the House measure, has said enrolling teens would help get more of them involved in the political process.

Carcieri says the current law, which allows teens to register if they are eligible to vote by the next election, has served the state well.

The governors says the bill would prematurely add thousands of ineligible names to the voter registry. He says that would be "counterintuitive and counterproductive" for the system.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Friday, Jul 10 at 10:29 PM Tony P wrote ...

The thing is, the Sec of State's Voter info database could easily absorb this change.

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