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HB 6092

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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karen Alzate and 4 co-sponsors

The bill adds an online portal for electronic nomination-paper signatures and counts those e-signatures toward required totals, modernizing access to ballot nomination.

06/13/2025 Referred to Senate Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 6092

Bill Summary — HB 6092

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS — NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
Status (latest): Referred to Senate Judiciary (06/13/2025) — House passed Substitute A (06/12/2025)
Introduced: 11/13/2024 (original); Substitute A introduced 03/14/2025
Chamber actions: House State Government & Elections committee considered and ultimately recommended passage of Sub A; House passed Sub A 06/12/2025; referred to Senate Judiciary 06/13/2025.

Note: the submission included an unrelated Michigan statutory text about governmental immunity that appears to be inserted in error. The Rhode Island Substitute A (LC002308/SUB A) amends Rhode Island General Laws, Chapter 17-14 (Nomination of Party and Independent Candidates); this summary focuses on that Substitute A.

Purpose / Intent

The bill modernizes and clarifies procedures for preparing, furnishing, signing, and counting nomination papers for party-endorsed and independent candidates in Rhode Island. Key goals include (1) standardizing administrative duties of the Secretary of State and local boards; (2) permitting and defining electronic signature collection via an online nomination-paper portal; and (3) codifying signature thresholds and signing rules for various offices.

Key Provisions

  • Preparation and distribution

    • Secretary of State (for statewide) and local boards (for general assembly/local) must prepare nomination papers within two business days after the final endorsements.
    • At least three sets of papers for each candidate running for general assembly/local office.
    • Papers must use the candidate name as it appears on the voting list, bear the state coat of arms, and be marked/color-coded to show party, endorsed/unendorsed status, and independent candidates.
    • Endorsed candidates for different offices may be combined on the same nomination papers; non-endorsed candidates for different offices may not be combined.

  • Candidate copying and issuance

    • Candidates may have nomination papers duplicated at their own expense.
    • Papers are issued personally to the candidate (or authorized designee).

  • Electronic nomination-paper portal

    • During the specified timeframe, the Secretary of State may provide an online portal allowing voters to electronically sign nomination papers.
    • Electronic signatures collected via the portal count toward required signature totals.

  • Signature thresholds (aggregate totals)

    • Governor / U.S. Senator / Presidential elector: 1,000 signatures.
    • U.S. Representative: 500 signatures.
    • Other statewide offices (excluding governor): 500 signatures.
    • State senator: 100 signatures (district).
    • State representative: 50 signatures (district).
    • Citywide at-large offices: typically 200 (exceptions: Newport 100; Woonsocket citywide nonpartisan 100; Providence 500).
    • Town voting district moderator/clerk: 10.
    • Other specified offices/delegates/unendorsed party committee candidates: 50.

  • Signing requirements and validation

    • Every signer must sign in person and provide name, residence, and street number as on the voting list; signature accepted if reasonably identifiable.
    • Minor variations (initials, titles) do not alone invalidate a signature.
    • Voters unable to write may make an "X" witnessed by two people who subscribe as witnesses.
    • The bill includes provisions governing electronic signature procedures (text truncated in provided document).

Who Is Affected

  • Candidates (party-endorsed and independent) and their circulators
  • Voters (ability to sign nomination papers electronically where eligible)
  • Secretary of State and local boards (administration, providing paper sets and operating an online portal)
  • Political parties (rules on combining endorsed candidates)
  • Election administrators (verification and security of electronic signing)

Potential Impact / Considerations

  • Lowers practical barriers to signature collection by formally allowing e-signatures to count, potentially easing ballot access.
  • Requires the Secretary of State to implement and secure an online signing portal—administrative, technical, and verification implications (security, identity validation, accessibility).
  • Clarifies administrative timelines and format requirements for nomination papers, which may reduce disputes over form and issuance.
  • Signature thresholds remain largely unchanged; major substantive change is permitting electronic signatures and procedural clarifications.

Procedural / Timing Notes

  • Section 17-14-4 is marked “[Effective January 1, 2025]” in the text, though Substitute A was introduced in March 2025; final effective dates would follow enactment and any specified implementation schedule.
  • House passed Substitute A on 06/12/2025; next step is Senate Judiciary consideration (referred 06/13/2025).

If you want, I can (1) extract the full set of amended statutory changes (sections 17-14-4, -7, -8, -11, -12, -13) from the Substitute A text and produce a side-by-side comparison to current law, or (2) outline likely administrative steps the Secretary of State would need to implement an online nomination-paper portal.

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

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