The Rhode Island legislature adjourned on July 3. During the session, five election law bills passed, the most newsworthy of which is HB 5702, to automatically register every adult citizen known to exist, unless the individual declines.

Also, four bills relating to polling place procedures passed: HB 5699, HB 5701, HB 5703, and HB 6008.

Interesting bills that did not pass are a proposed constitutional amendment to allow ranked choice voting for state office (HB 5513); bills to require presidential candidates to reveal their tax returns or be kept off the ballot (SB 91 and HB 5400); a bill to require write-in candidates who want their votes tallied to file a declaration of write-in candidacy (HB 6038); a bill easing the time for a voter to switch parties in order to vote in a primary from 90 days before the primary to 23 days (SB 343); and a restrictive bill moving the deadline for any candidate to file a declaration of candidacy from June to April (SB 346).