Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7572: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Adds early voting to the 50 feet buffer
Status: In committee, May 1, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Adds early voting to the 50 feet buffer prohibitions against politicking during election day voting.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 6, 2026:
2026 -- H 7572 ======== LC004411 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, McNamara, Edwards, Kazarian, Kennedy, Dawson, Serpa, Chippendale, Place, and Potter Date Introduced: February 06, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 17-19-49 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows: 17-19-49. Political literature and influence. No poster, paper, circular, or other document designed or tending to aid, injure, or defeat any candidate for public office or any political party on any question submitted to the voters shall be distributed or displayed within the voting place or within fifty (50) feet of the entrance or entrances to the building in which voting is conducted at any primary or election, including both early voting and election day voting. Neither shall any election official display on his or her person within the voting place any political party button, badge, or other device tending to aid, injure, or defeat the candidacy of any person for public office or any question submitted to the voters or to intimidate or influence the voters. SECTION 2. …
Sponsors
- Mia Ackerman (D, HD-045) · primary sponsor
- McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019)
- John Edwards (D, HD-070)
- Katherine Kazarian (D, HD-063)
- Brian Kennedy (D, HD-038)
- Matthew Dawson (D, HD-065)
- Patricia Serpa (D, HD-027)
- Michael Chippendale (R, HD-040)
- David Place (R, HD-047)
- Brandon Potter (D, HD-016)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Senate Judiciary
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
Votes
- House Seq #140: PASSAGE (April 30, 2026): 65 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 H7572?
- H7572 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Adds early voting to the 50 feet buffer .
- What does H7572 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES (Adds early voting to the 50 feet buffer prohibitions against politicking during election day voting.)
- What is the status of H7572?
- In committee as of May 1, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Senate Judiciary (May 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7572?
- Mia Ackerman (D, HD-045), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7572?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7572.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.