Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-29 (2026)

Number of votes required to nominate or elect

✓ current as of July 2026
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In determining the nomination or election of a candidate at a primary election, the person receiving the largest number of votes, although less than a majority of all the votes cast for the candidates for a particular office, shall be declared nominated or elected. Where there is more than one person to be elected to a particular office or place, those persons equaling that number of officers to be elected to the office or place receiving the largest number of votes, although less than a majority of all the votes cast for all the candidates for the office or place, shall be declared nominated or elected, as the case may be, unless otherwise provided by existing law.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1959–2004 · leading case: DeCesare v. Bd. of Elections, 242 A.2d 421 (R.I. 1968).
DeCesare v. Bd. of Elections, 242 A.2d 421 (R.I. 1968). · cites it 7× “The result of those calculations was that only the decedent and 59 other candidates received the pluralities which G.L. 1956, § 17-15-29, as amended, requires for election to membership on the town committee.”
Metts v. Almond, 363 F.3d 8 (1st Cir. 2004). “IV, § 2 (general elections); R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-29 (2002) (primary elections) — nor do we have any evidence at this stage about how vigorously the majority votes as a bloc over time, nor the impact of the fact that the “majority” here is made up of both Hispanics and whites.”
Bunting v. Bd. of Canvassers & Reg., 153 A.2d 560 (R.I. 1959). · cites it 3× “s were signed by a sufficient number of qualified electors and duly filed with the board; that in accordance with the provisions of §17-12-11, the incumbent ward committee endorsed nine of said candidates; that the nine so endorsed received a plurality of all the votes cast at…”
Metts v. Almond, 363 F.3d 8 (1st Cir. 2003). “IV, § 2 (general elections); R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-29 (2002) (primary elections).”
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