H7380 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in all local, state and federal public office elections.)

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Brien, Corvese, Lima, Chippendale, Hopkins, Newberry
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in all local, state and federal public office elections.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in all local, state and federal public office elections.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-04-16 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/16/2026)
2026-03-23 Committee
Committee postponed at request of sponsor (03/26/2026)
2026-03-20 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
2026-01-28 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in all local, state and federal public office elections.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H7380

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
Newberry

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