Rhode Island SB 282: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

Bill Text

2025 -- S 0282
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LC000371
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS
Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, and Rogers
Date Introduced: February 13, 2025
Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Sections 17-20-2.1 and 17-20-2.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 1
entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows: 2
17-20-2.1. Requirements for validity of mail ballot and mail ballot applications. 3
(a)(1) Any legally qualified elector of this state whose name appears upon the official 4
voting list of the city, town, or district of the city or town where the elector is qualified, and who 5
desires to avail himself or herself of the right granted to him or her by the Constitution and declared 6
in this chapter, may obtain from the local board in the city or town a form prepared by the secretary 7
of state as prescribed in this section, setting forth the elector’s application for a mail ballot or may 8
apply online in accordance with § 17-20-2.3. 9
(2) The application shall include proof of the voter's date of birth and a Rhode Island 10
driver's license number or state identification number. 11
(b) Whenever any person is unable to sign their name because of blindness, disability, or 12
inability to read or write, the voter or their assistant shall mark a box to indicate the voter cannot 13
sign due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write and include the full name, residence 14
address, signature, and optionally the telephone number and e-mail address, of the person who 15
provided assistance to the voter on a form provided by the secretary of state. The representation 16
relating to the voter’s inability to sign shall be made under the pains and penalties of perjury. 17
(c) To receive a ballot in the mail, an elector must submit an application in person or by 18
mail, so that it is received by the local board, or received electronically through the portal 19

LC000371 - Page 2 of 5
established by § 17-20-2.3, not later than four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on the twenty-first (21st) day 1
before the day of any election referred to in § 17-20-1. In those cases where an application to receive 2
a mail ballot is postmarked by the twenty-first (21st) day before the date of an election and received 3
not later than eighteen (18) days before the date of an election, the application shall be considered 4
received on or prior to the last day to apply for a mail ballot. 5
(d) In addition to those requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter, a mail ballot, in 6
order to be valid, must have been cast in conformance with the following procedures: 7
(1) All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(1) shall be mailed to the elector at the 8
Rhode Island address provided by the elector on the application. In order to be valid, the voter must 9
affix their signature on all certifying envelopes containing a voted ballot. 10
(2) All applications for mail ballots pursuant to § 17-20-2(2) must state under oath the 11
name and location of the hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, or similar institution where 12
the elector is confined. All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(2) shall be delivered to the 13
elector at the hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, or similar institution where the elector is 14
confined. 15
(3) All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) shall be mailed to the address provided 16
by the elector on the application or sent to the board of canvassers in the city or town where the 17
elector maintains their voting residence. In order to be valid, the voter must affix their signature on 18
the certifying envelope containing voted ballots. Any voter qualified to receive a mail ballot 19
pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) shall also be entitled to cast a ballot pursuant to the provisions of United 20
States Public Law 99-410, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). 21
(4) All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(4) may be mailed to the elector at the 22
address within the United States provided by the elector on the application or sent to the board of 23
canvassers in the city or town where the elector maintains their voting residence. In order to be 24
valid, the voter must affix their signature on all certifying envelopes containing a voted ballot. In 25
order to be valid, all ballots sent to the elector at the board of canvassers, must be voted in 26
conformance with the provisions of § 17-20-14.2. 27
(e) Any person knowingly and willfully making a false application or certification, or 28
knowingly and willfully aiding and abetting in the making of a false application or certification, 29
shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the penalties provided for in § 17-26-1. 30
(f) In no way shall a mail ballot application be disqualified if the voter’s circumstances 31