The bill amends Chapter 17-12.1 of the General Laws to establish rules and regulations for presidential preference primaries, specifically 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 basis or a proportional basis, depending on the party's instructions. If a party does not provide clear instructions on delegate tabulation, the primary will default to a statewide winner-take-all approach.

The bill outlines the process for candidates to notify the Secretary of State of their candidacy and the requirements for candidate withdrawal, including the need for a signed letter of withdrawal and an affidavit to be filed with the Secretary of State. It clarifies the voting process, including ballot structure and vote counting, and establishes definitions for terms related to the electoral process.

Additionally, the bill introduces regulations for resolving ties among candidates and requires the Secretary of State to certify results and report detailed round-by-round tabulation data to ensure transparency. It mandates that the Secretary of State promulgate rules or guidance for the release of unofficial preliminary results after polls close, including round-by-round results and ballot-level ranking data. The bill also includes provisions for risk-limiting audits of election results to enhance public confidence in the electoral process, specifying that audits should not occur during recounts and providing definitions for auditing-related terms. Overall, the bill aims to improve election administration and integrity.

Statutes affected:
2590: 17-19-37.4