Rhode Island labor leaders are looking to eliminate the decennial ballot question that asks if the state should hold a constitutional convention after voters rejected it by nearly 63% in the recent general election. The question comes up every 10 years, but labor leaders are now seeking a lawmaker to help get rid of it through either an amendment proposed in a constitutional convention or through the General Assembly.
Rhode Island AFL-CIO Patrick Crowley is leading the charge to find a sponsor to eliminate the question, with a discussion likely to happen at an upcoming event. While some lawmakers are open to considering the proposal, it remains to be seen who will champion the effort in the legislature. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, one of the prominent Democrats who came out against the question, expressed concern about outside influences funding such a convention.
Despite the defeat of Question 1 in the recent election, Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion believes the process-driven nature of the question may have contributed to the confusion among voters. He noted that voters tend to reject measures they do not understand, especially when there is a lack of clear information provided.
The campaign against Question 1 was well-funded by a coalition of civil rights and labor organizations, while supporters were limited to a video and text message blitz. The likelihood of the General Assembly approving a measure to remove the convention question remains uncertain, as it has been a part of the state’s constitution for nearly 50 years.
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