2026 -- H 7049

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LC003210

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, Paplauskas, and J. Brien

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2026

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-15-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary

Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-15-1. Date of primaries.

     A primary election for the nomination of candidates for each political party shall be held

in each voting district in the manner provided in this chapter on the eighth Tuesday preceding

biennial state elections. Provided, however, that if the eighth Tuesday is the day after Labor Day,

then the primary election shall be held on the next day, the Wednesday, and in such occurrence, the

dates for the primary candidate nomination, challenge, objection, hearing, withdrawal, vacancy,

and certification processes established by §§ 17-14-11, 17-14-12, 17-15-38, and 17-9-7, including

any ensuing statutory deadlines tied to those dates, shall be calculated as if the primary election

were still held on the Tuesday.

     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 -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS

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     This act would require that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday

preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday immediately following Labor

Day if the eighth Tuesday immediately follows Labor Day. This provision would not change any

other deadlines established in Title 17.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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