The bill amends Chapter 17-12.1 of the General Laws to establish rules and regulations for presidential preference primaries, introducing ranked choice voting for these elections. Voters will have the ability to rank candidates, and the bill specifies whether delegates will be allocated on a winner-take-all or proportional basis. If a political party does not provide clear instructions for tabulation, the primary will default to a statewide winner-take-all approach.

The bill outlines the notification process for candidates intending to run, requirements for petition papers, and procedures for candidate withdrawals. It clarifies the voting process, including ballot structure and definitions of key terms. Additionally, it establishes rules for recounts in close elections, allowing for a recount when there is a vote difference of 200 or fewer votes between the winning and losing candidates.

The Secretary of State is required to certify results after each round of tabulation and to provide detailed reporting of unofficial preliminary results, including round-by-round data and ballot-level rankings, to enhance transparency and public confidence in the electoral process. The bill also includes provisions for the Secretary of State to promulgate rules or guidance to facilitate the release of unofficial preliminary results and mandates the reporting of specific data related to the election results.

Statutes affected:
152: 17-19-37.4