Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7358: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Requires all write-in votes, regardless of qualification, to be reported and published by the state board of elections, on its website.)
Status: Signed into law, June 18, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 28, 2026:
2026 -- H 7358 ======== LC003495 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, and Paplauskas Date Introduced: January 28, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 17-19-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows: 17-19-31. Irregular ballots. Ballots voted for any person whose name does not appear on the ballot as a nominated candidate for office are referred to in this section as "irregular ballots." In voting for presidential electors, a voter may vote an irregular ticket made up of the names of persons in nomination by different parties; or partly of names of persons in nomination and partly of names of persons not in nomination; or wholly of names of persons not in nomination by any party. Scanned images of the computer ballot containing the irregular ballot shall be stored digitally on physical electronic media in the optical-scan precinct-count unit and published on the state board website. With that exception, no irregular ballot shall be voted for any person for any office whose name appears on the ballot as a …
Sponsors
- Jacquelyn Baginski (D, HD-017) · primary sponsor
- Christopher Paplauskas (R)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed in concurrence
- : Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage in concurrence
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Referred to Senate Judiciary
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
Votes
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage in concurrence (May 28, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Seq #142: PASSAGE (April 30, 2026): 66 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage (April 16, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: ELECTIONS
Common questions
- What is H7358?
- H7358 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Requires all write-in votes, regardless of qualification, to be reported and published by the state board of elections, on its website.).
- What is the status of H7358?
- Signed into law as of June 18, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7358?
- Jacquelyn Baginski (D, HD-017), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for H7358?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7358.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.