Bill > H5712

This bill establishes fusion voting in Rhode Island, a voting system that allows candidates to be nominated by multiple political parties for the same office. The legislation creates comprehensive procedures for cross-endorsement, including requirements for candidate acceptance of nominations from different parties. Candidates can now appear on ballots under multiple party lines, with voters able to select the candidate on any party's ballot line. The bill significantly reduces the threshold for political party qualification from 5% to 1% of votes in statewide elections, making it easier for smaller parties to gain official party status. Ballot design must accommodate these changes while maintaining accessibility and clarity, ensuring voters cannot accidentally vote multiple times for the same candidate. Voting equipment will be programmed to display candidates on multiple party lines and tally votes both by party line and in total. Election results will now include both the total votes received by each candidate and a breakdown of votes by party line. The state board of elections is tasked with developing implementation rules, providing training for local election officials, and conducting a public education campaign about fusion voting. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2028, giving election officials and voters ample time to prepare for the new voting system.

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