Bill > H7232

This bill establishes "fusion voting" in Rhode Island, a system where a candidate can be nominated by multiple political parties for the same office, allowing their name to appear on the ballot under each party's designation. It outlines procedures for candidates to accept these multiple nominations, mandates specific ballot designs that comply with accessibility standards (like those from the Help America Vote Act, or HAVA) and clearly explain fusion voting to voters, and details how votes will be tabulated by preserving separate party-line totals while combining them for the final candidate count. The bill also requires voting equipment to be programmed to accommodate this system, preventing voters from casting multiple votes for the same candidate. Additionally, it lowers the threshold for a political organization to qualify as a "political party" from five percent (5%) to one percent (1%) of votes in statewide elections, making it easier for new parties to emerge. Some provisions of the bill take effect immediately upon passage, while others, including the core fusion voting procedures, will be implemented starting January 1, 2029, with the State Board of Elections responsible for developing regulations, training local officials, and educating the public on the new system.

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