The bill amends Chapter 17-12.1 of the General Laws to implement ranked choice voting for presidential preference primaries in Rhode Island. Key changes include the requirement for voters to rank their candidate preferences and the establishment of whether delegate tabulation will be conducted on a winner-take-all or proportional basis. If a political party fails to provide clear instructions for tabulation, the primary will default to a statewide winner-take-all method.

The legislation outlines the notification process for candidates intending to run, requirements for petition papers, and procedures for candidate withdrawals. It specifies that if a candidate withdraws, they must file a signed letter of withdrawal and an affidavit with the Secretary of State to be treated as an inactive candidate in the tabulation process.

Additionally, the bill mandates the Secretary of State to develop rules for the timely release of unofficial preliminary results, including round-by-round results and ballot-level ranking data in a machine-readable format. It emphasizes transparency by requiring consultations with local election officials and party representatives during rule-making.

The act also introduces provisions for recounts in cases where there is a close vote difference between candidates. It specifies the procedures for ranked choice voting tabulation, including how ballots will be treated during the counting process and the conditions under which candidates will be eliminated.

The bill aims to enhance the clarity and fairness of the primary election process and will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5276: 17-19-37.4