2026 -- H 7380 | |
======== | |
LC004422 | |
======== | |
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, | |
AND SUPPLIES | |
| |
Introduced By: Representatives J. Brien, Corvese, Lima, Chippendale, Hopkins, and | |
Date Introduced: January 28, 2026 | |
Referred To: House State Government & Elections | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 17-19 of the General Laws entitled "Conduct of Election and Voting |
2 | Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 17-19-24.4. Ranked choice voting prohibition. |
4 | (a) In all elections, including primary elections, for any local, state, or federal public office, |
5 | the following shall be prohibited: |
6 | (1) Voting systems that permit a voter to vote for more than one candidate for the same |
7 | office; |
8 | (2) Voting systems that permit a voter to rank multiple candidates for the same office; and |
9 | (3) Voting systems that reallocate a voter's vote for one candidate to another candidate for |
10 | the same office. |
11 | (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a locality from holding at-large |
12 | elections or multi-member district elections, as long as voters have one vote per position and no |
13 | votes are transferred between candidates. |
14 | (c) Any existing or future ordinance by any political subdivision of this state which is in |
15 | conflict with this section is void. |
16 | (d) Any election for any public office in this state conducted under a voting system |
17 | prohibited by subsection (a) of this section is void, and no candidate shall be elected under such a |
18 | system. |
| |
1 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC004422 | |
======== | |
| LC004422 - Page 2 of 3 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, | |
AND SUPPLIES | |
*** | |
1 | This act would prohibit the use of ranked choice voting in all local, state and federal public |
2 | office elections. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC004422 | |
======== | |
| LC004422 - Page 3 of 3 |