RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- AGREEMENT AMONG THE STATES TO ELECT THE, PRESIDENT BY NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE
Summary
H7783 repeals Rhode Island’s existing statutory authorization to participate in the interstate compact known as the “Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.” That compact would have committed member states to award their presidential electors to the candidate who wins the most votes nationally, rather than the candidate who wins Rhode Island or the individual member state. The bill removes the entire chapter that enacted the compact into Rhode Island law.
If enacted, the bill would return Rhode Island to the traditional Electoral College framework for presidential elections and eliminate the state’s legal basis for joining the national popular vote agreement. The repeal would also remove the compact’s related procedures for determining national vote totals, certifying electors for the national popular vote winner, public reporting requirements, withdrawal rules, and definitions tied to the compact’s operation.
Impact
The bill would amend Title 17 of the General Laws by repealing Chapter 17-4.2 in its entirety, thereby striking Rhode Island’s statutory participation in the National Popular Vote interstate compact. As a result, state election officials would no longer be authorized or required under Rhode Island law to allocate presidential electors based on the national popular vote total, and the state would no longer be positioned to implement the compact if it were activated by other states. The practical effect is to preserve Rhode Island’s current role in presidential elections under the Electoral College system rather than a national popular vote mechanism.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to indicate broad support or opposition. Based on the bill’s caption and structure, the measure appears to be a repeal of a previously adopted policy, which typically signals a substantive policy reversal rather than a technical change. The absence of recorded votes or discussion means sentiment cannot be measured directly from the provided materials.
Contention
The central point of contention is the method of selecting the President and Vice President: supporters of the repeal would favor ending Rhode Island’s participation in the National Popular Vote compact and retaining the Electoral College, while opponents would likely view the repeal as undermining a reform intended to align the presidency with the national popular vote. Because no committee testimony or vote record is provided, the specific arguments, sponsors’ rationale, and any organized support or opposition groups are not identified in the record.
Repeals authorizing Rhode Island to join an interstate compact, which would allow Presidents and Vice Presidents to be elected by a national popular vote rather than the electoral college.
Changes the manner by which presidential electoral college electors are elected and create a system of grouping of municipalities of equal populations, one of each of Rhode Island's electoral votes.
Spells out rules and regulations for the presidential preference primary elections, and would also establish rules for ranked choice voting tabulation and results reporting by the secretary of state.
SENATE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP ON HIS INAUGURATION AND HISTORIC AND EXTRAORDINARY VICTORY IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Would amend certain signature requirements and deadlines regarding primaries for election of delegates to national conventions for presidential preference.
HOUSE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT JAMES DAVID VANCE ON THEIR ELECTION, AND RECOGNIZING THE 2024 ELECTION AS AN HISTORIC ELECTION
Establishes the Ranked Choice Voting for Rhode Island Presidential Primaries and provides for new sections on ranked choice voting tabulation and results reporting.
Allows retired election officials to work for the state board of elections on a temporary basis in any year in which a statewide, congressional or referendum general election is held.