The bill amends Chapter 17-12.1 of the General Laws to introduce ranked choice voting for presidential preference primaries in Rhode Island. Key insertions include provisions that allow voters to rank their preferences for up to five candidates, with an option for "uncommitted." The bill also mandates that the number of delegates and their allocation methods be determined by the national party committee and communicated to the secretary of state by a specified deadline. If a party fails to provide a method for tabulating ballots, a statewide winner-take-all approach will be used as the default. Additionally, the bill clarifies the notification process for presidential candidates intending to run, requiring written notification and signed petition papers from eligible voters.

Further amendments focus on the procedures for vote tabulation in a ranked choice system, including definitions for terms like "active candidate" and "threshold for receiving delegates." The bill outlines how votes will be counted, how candidates will be eliminated in rounds of voting, and establishes protocols for recounts and the treatment of undervotes. It also mandates risk-limiting audits for elections starting in 2018, enhancing election integrity and public confidence. Notably, the bill ensures that the implementation of a voting system compatible with fusion voting will not be obstructed, and it includes a clause for the validity of remaining provisions if any part of the act is deemed unconstitutional. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5276: 17-19-37.4