R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-18: Runoff elections — Term of certification as bargaining representative.

If at an election conducted pursuant to §§ 28-7-14 — 28-7-19, three (3) or more nominees for exclusive collective bargaining representatives appear on the ballot and no one of them receives a majority of the votes cast at the election, the two (2) nominees who received the highest number of votes shall appear on the ballot of a second election to be conducted under these provisions and the one receiving a majority of the votes cast at the second election shall be the exclusive representative of all the employees in the unit for the purpose of collective bargaining in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, or other conditions of employment. Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this chapter, any certification as to the bargaining representatives made pursuant to an election conducted under §§ 28-7-14 — 28-7-19 shall be effective for one year from the date of the election.