On June 10, the Rhode Island legislature passed H.7894. It makes it possible for voters to sign petitions for two or more candidates running for the same office.

For federal and state office, Rhode Island law already lets voters sign for as many candidates for the same office as they wish. The bill says that cities and towns must follow the same policy.

Several Rhode Island towns have their own laws that do not permit voters to sign for more than a single candidate for the same office. But the new bill overrides those restrictive town ordinances. Assuming the Governor signs the bill, that will settle the pending lawsuits Monteiro v City of East Providence (now pending in U.S. District Court) and Fontes v City of Central Falls (now pending in the First Circuit).