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.)

H7380

2026 -- H 7380
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LC004422
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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 -- 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:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 17-19 of the General Laws entitled "Conduct of Election and Voting
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Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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17-19-24.4. Ranked choice voting prohibition.

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(a) In all elections, including primary elections, for any local, state, or federal public office,
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the following shall be prohibited:
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(1) Voting systems that permit a voter to vote for more than one candidate for the same
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office;
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(2) Voting systems that permit a voter to rank multiple candidates for the same office; and
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(3) Voting systems that reallocate a voter's vote for one candidate to another candidate for
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the same office.
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(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a locality from holding at-large
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elections or multi-member district elections, as long as voters have one vote per position and no
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votes are transferred between candidates.
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(c) Any existing or future ordinance by any political subdivision of this state which is in
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conflict with this section is void.
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(d) Any election for any public office in this state conducted under a voting system
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prohibited by subsection (a) of this section is void, and no candidate shall be elected under such a
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system.

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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 -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT,
AND SUPPLIES
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This act would prohibit the use of ranked choice voting in all local, state and federal public
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office elections.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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