Rhode Island began as a “lively experiment,” but we must never tolerate becoming a laboratory for out-of-state extremist interests.

There is a provision in the Rhode Island Constitution requiring that every 10 years, the following question is to be put to the voters: “Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the Constitution?” This will appear as Question 1 on the ballot in this election.

I am urging Rhode Islanders to vote NO on Question 1 and reject the calling of a constitutional convention.  I know that there will be some criticism leveled at me for taking this position.  But I want to make sure that voters know exactly what is at stake.

The Constitution is the state’s most important governing document. We rely on its language to guarantee our most fundamental and personal rights: civil rights, voting rights, marriage rights, reproductive rights and workers’ rights. 

If Question 1 is approved, a special election would be held to elect 75 delegates whose sole charge would be to revise the Rhode Island Constitution in any way they see fit. Delegates would undoubtedly run and campaign on behalf of a multitude of special interests, including national issues espoused by the fringes of both political parties. Outside money would flood into this state. Outside groups would treat Rhode Island as a test case in an attempt to cement these issues into the constitution of any state. 

We must not allow our Constitution to be sold to the highest bidder. Voters should be aware that there is no limit on the amount of money that anyone - inside or outside the state - can spend in support of any special interest. There are no guardrails on the scope of issues to be considered by the delegates or the process the convention uses to approve them. The combination of unlimited dark money and a convention’s opportunity to unwind critical and hard-fought rights gives me grave concern.

Some of the ideas that proponents support may have merit. Supporters of a constitutional convention erroneously suggest that a constitutional convention is the only way that certain constitutional changes will occur. I want to remind voters that the General Assembly considers legislation every year which propose changes to the Constitution. The public participates in our open and transparent hearing process, and the media carefully reports on these ideas.  Representatives and senators in the General Assembly must face the voters every two years.  If the voters are not happy, election results will show it. Conversely, delegates to a constitutional convention will never face the voters again.

As Speaker of the House, I am always mindful of budget impacts. Voters should know that if Question 1 were to be approved, the special election and resulting convention would result in an expense to taxpayers of millions of dollars.

There is sound reason why no other state has approved or conducted a constitutional convention for nearly 40 years. In fact, Rhode Island conducted the very last constitutional convention in the nation in 1986. Since that time, our voters have consistently rejected the calling of a convention.

I will be voting NO on Question 1 and urge all Rhode Islanders to join me.  Finally, I encourage all Rhode Islanders to engage regularly with their representatives and senators on legislative priorities and to actively participate in the legislative public hearing process by providing written or in-person testimony.

EDITOR’S NOTE: K. Joseph Shekarchi (D) was first elected Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives in January 2021; he was re-elected as Speaker in January 2023. He represents Warwick’s District 23.