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HB 7783

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- AGREEMENT AMONG THE STATES TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT BY NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doc Corvese and 1 co-sponsor

Rhode Island would join and enact the national popular vote compact, awarding its electoral votes to the slate that wins the nationwide popular vote once enough states join.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7783

Summary of HB 7783 (Rhode Island, 2026) – AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- AGREEMENT AMONG THE STATES TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT BY NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE

What the bill would do

  • This bill repeals Rhode Island’s current authorization to participate in the interstate compact known as the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.
  • It enacts the compact language directly into Rhode Island law, effectively joining or reaffirming participation in the national popular vote compact (NPVIC) that seeks to elect the President and Vice President of the United States by nationwide popular vote rather than by the Electoral College.
  • The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Main purpose and intent

  • To shift the method of selecting the U.S. President and Vice President from the Electoral College system to a national popular vote outcome, but only if enough states enact the compact to cumulatively possess a majority of electoral votes.
  • To ensure Rhode Island participates in the mechanism that would award its electoral votes to the presidential slate that wins the national popular vote nationwide.

Key provisions and changes

Article I – Membership

  • Any U.S. state or the District of Columbia may become a member by enacting the agreement.

Article II – Voter rights

  • Each member state must conduct a statewide popular election for president and vice president.

Article III – Manner of appointing electors

  • Each member state calculates the national popular vote total by aggregating statewide results across all member states and D.C.
  • The slate with the largest national popular vote total is designated the national popular vote winner.
  • The elector certifying official in each state then certifies the election of the slate associated with the national popular vote winner.
  • States must share official results with other member states within 24 hours of final statewide determinations.
  • If there is a national popular vote tie, the elector certifying official certifies the slate associated with the largest popular vote within that state.
  • If a state’s nominated elector slate size does not match its number of electoral votes, the national popular vote winner’s slate may nominate the electors for that state.
  • Public release of vote counts/statements must occur promptly.
  • This article governs elector appointments in any year in which the agreement reaches a majority of electoral votes.

Article IV – Other provisions

  • The agreement takes effect when states cumulatively holding a majority of electoral votes enact it in substantially the same form, and such enactments take effect in each state.
  • Withdrawal is allowed, with a six-month or shorter withdrawal before a president’s term not becoming effective until the next term begins.
  • The chief executives of member states must notify each other about enactment, effect, withdrawal, and general effect.
  • The agreement terminates if the Electoral College is abolished.
  • If any provision is invalid, the rest remains in effect.

Article V – Definitions

  • Clarifies roles and terms, including chief executive (governor or D.C. mayor), chief election official, presidential elector, elector slate, and other key terms for administering the plan.
  • Defines “statewide popular election” as a general statewide vote for presidential slates.

Who would be affected

  • Rhode Island residents voting in presidential elections (through statewide popular vote).
  • Rhode Island’s designated presidential electors and the state’s electoral process, should the compact gain sufficient national adoption to produce a nationwide popular vote outcome.
  • Other participating states and the overall operation of the agreement if the compact reaches the threshold of a majority of electoral votes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Date introduced: February 12, 2026.
  • Referred to House State Government & Elections.
  • Committee actions show ongoing consideration in 2026, with recommendations to hold for further study (April 30, 2026) and prior postponements.
  • Effective date: Immediately upon passage of the act.
  • General rule: The compact would take effect only after states cumulatively possessing a majority of electoral votes enact it in substantially the same form, with enacted measures taking effect in each state.

Notable considerations

  • The act repeals Rhode Island’s prior authorization to join the compact and simultaneously enacts the compact’s text into Rhode Island law.
  • The policy does not alone change federal law; it relies on a sufficient number of states joining the compact to create a nationwide popular vote outcome for presidential elections.
  • Potential implications include shifts in campaigning focus, ballot counting transparency expectations, and interstate coordination among member states.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language comparison with Rhode Island’s current process and a brief outline of potential pros/cons often discussed in public commentary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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