2025 -- H 5520

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LC001299

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- ELECTION OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORS

     Introduced By: Representative Brian C. Newberry

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-4-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-4 entitled "Federal

Elective Officers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-4-10. Presidential electors — Time and manner of voting — Election by plurality.

     (a) The people of this state, qualified by law to vote for general offices, shall elect as many

electors of president and vice-president of the United States that the state is or shall be entitled to

at town, ward, and district meetings on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in

every fourth (4th) year, commencing in 1960, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 19 of

this title, and the several candidates having a plurality of the legal votes given in at the election

shall be elected.

     (b) For purposes of electing presidential electors, the state shall be divided into four (4)

groups of municipalities of approximately equal populations, created during the redistricting

process. There shall be one group for each elected member of congress. Votes cast by each group's

voters shall be tallied, with the winner of each group, awarded one electoral vote. The number of

municipality groups shall be based upon the number of electoral votes Rhode Island is entitled to

receive, through the redistricting process.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- ELECTION OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTORS

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     This act would change the manner by which presidential electoral college electors are

elected. It would create a system of grouping of municipalities of equal populations, one of each of

Rhode Island's electoral votes, with the winner of each group for the presidential elections each

group receiving one electoral vote.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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