Requires all write-in votes, regardless of qualification, to be reported and published by the state board of elections, on its website.

Rhode Island Write-In Vote Transparency Bill

This bill would require Rhode Island's Board of Elections to collect, report, and publish all write-in votes cast in elections — regardless of whether the write-in candidate officially qualified for the ballot. Currently, write-in votes that don't meet certain legal requirements may not be fully tracked or made publicly available. Under this bill, every write-in vote would need to be counted, recorded, and posted on the Board of Elections' official website for anyone to see.

The bill affects Rhode Island voters, candidates, and anyone interested in following election results. For voters, it means that even if they write in a name that doesn't belong to a formally registered write-in candidate, that vote would still be recorded and reported publicly. For researchers, journalists, and the general public, it would provide a more complete and transparent picture of how Rhode Islanders voted in any given election.

As of now, the bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee. The committee has recommended holding the bill for further study rather than moving it forward immediately, meaning it has not yet advanced through the legislative process. A hearing has been scheduled, so the bill remains under consideration.