HB 8282 Rhode Island House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

This bill updates election nomination procedures by establishing an online portal where voters can electronically sign nomination papers for party and independent candidates. The legislation modifies existing state laws to allow digital signatures to count toward the required number of endorsements needed to qualify a candidate for the ballot. It applies to candidates for various offices, including governor, state representatives, and local positions, while maintaining the same signature thresholds as traditional paper forms. The bill also clarifies rules for how nomination papers are prepared, distributed, and verified, including provisions for candidates who cannot write their own signatures. These changes aim to modernize the nomination process while keeping the core requirements for candidate qualification intact.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 11, 2026 Last action May 1, 2026
Floor votes · House Apr 30, 2026

How they voted

4620
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 74
Apr 30, 2026
D Democratic63
46 Yea 11 Nay 6
73% Yea
I Independent1
1 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican10
8 Nay 2
80% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 1, 2026
Committee
05/01/2026 Referred to Senate Judiciary
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
04/30/2026 House read and passed
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Legislature · Passed
04/16/2026 Committee recommends passage
legislature
Mar 26, 2026
Committee
03/26/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
Mar 11, 2026
Introduced
03/11/2026 Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
lower
10 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors