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Laws governing ballot measures in Rhode Island
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Rhode Island, including constitutional amendments, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Rhode Island
- Amending the Rhode Island Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Rhode Island
- Laws governing recall in Rhode Island
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Rhode Island
- Campaign finance requirements for Rhode Island ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Rhode Island
Laws governing ballot measures in Rhode Island
Types of ballot measures in Rhode Island
- Citizens of Rhode Island do not have the power to initiate statewide ballot measures.
- In Rhode Island, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments, state statutes, and bond measures to the ballot.
Amending the Rhode Island Constitution
- Rhode Island became a state in 1790. There have been two state constitutions. The current state constitution was ratified in 1986.
- The Rhode Island Constitution can be amended in two ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Rhode Island State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Rhode Island
- The initiative process is available in 11 of Rhode Island's 39 charter municipalities.
- There are no school bond and tax elections in Rhode Island. Rhode Island is one of nine states that, along with the District of Columbia, do not hold school bond or tax elections.
Laws governing recall in Rhode Island
- Article IV Section 1 of the Rhode Island Constitution provides that the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and treasurer are subject to recall.
- Local recall procedures are set in municipal charters, which establish the offices subject to recall, the required signatures, and the deadlines for the process.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Rhode Island
- According to Article XIV, Section 2 of the Rhode Island Constitution, a simple majority vote in one legislative session is required for the state legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. A simple majority vote of the electorate is required to call the convention.
- The state constitution also requires that a state constitutional convention question is provided to voters at least 10 years after the prior question. Rhode Island is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
Campaign finance requirements for Rhode Island ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Rhode Island must register and report campaign finance.
- There are no contribution limits for ballot advocates in Rhode Island.
- If a ballot measure in question involves gambling, all ballot question advocates must disclose if a donor has a direct or indirect stake in a casino or gaming operation.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Rhode Island
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
As of September 2025, the Rhode Island State Legislature had not passed legislation that changed the laws governing ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
