2015 -- H 5949

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LC002217

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - MAIL BALLOTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, Coughlin, Keable, Kazarian, and Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: March 19, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Board of Elections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 17-20-10 and 17-20-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20

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entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-20-10. Certification of applications -- Issuance of ballots -- Marking of lists --

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Mailing address. -- (a) Upon receipt of the application, the local board shall immediately

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examine it and determine whether it complies with each of the requirements set forth by this

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chapter and compare the signature on the ballot application with the signature contained on the

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original registration card, except as may be otherwise provided by law, to satisfy itself that the

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applicant is a qualified voter. Upon determining that it does meet each requirement of this chapter

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and that the signature appears to be the same, the local board shall mark the application

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"accepted" and record in the space provided on the ballot application the senatorial,

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representative, and voting district in which the applicant should vote.

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      (b) The local board shall also record the city or town code and district information in the

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mailing label section of the mail ballot application. The local board shall also print or type the

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name of the elector and the complete mailing address in that section. If the local board does not

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accept the application, the local board shall return the application to the elector, together with a

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form prescribed by the secretary of state, specifying the reason or reasons for the return of the

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application.

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      (c) Not later than 4:00 p.m. on the eighteenth (18th) day before the day of any election

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referred to in this chapter or within seven (7) days of receipt by the local board, whichever occurs

 

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first, the local board shall certify the applications to the secretary of state through the CVRS

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system as this procedure is prescribed by the secretary of state. Upon the certification of a mail

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ballot application to the secretary of state, the local board shall enter on the voting list the fact

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that a mail ballot application for the voter has been certified and shall cause the delivery of the

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certified mail ballot applications together with the signed certified listing thereof in sealed

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packages to the state board of elections.

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      (d) (1) Upon the ballots becoming available, the secretary of state shall immediately,

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issue and mail, by first class mail, postage prepaid, a mail ballot to each eligible voter who has

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been certified. With respect to voters who have applied for these mail ballots under the provisions

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of subdivision 17-20-2(1), the secretary of state shall include with the mail ballots a stamped

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return envelope addressed: "Board of Elections, 50 Branch Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island

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02904-2790" to the board of elections.

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      (2) The secretary of state shall include on the mail ballot envelope a numerical or

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alphabetical code designating the city or town where the voter resides. The secretary of state shall

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immediately thereafter indicate on the voter's record that the secretary of state has sent mail

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ballots provided, that this mark shall serve solely to indicate that a mail ballot has been issued and

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shall not be construed as voting in the election.

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      (e) Prior to each election, the secretary of state shall also furnish to the chairperson of the

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state committee of each political party a list of the names and residence addresses of all persons

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to whom mail ballots have been issued. The secretary of state shall also furnish to a candidate for

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political office upon request a list of the names and residence addresses of all persons to whom

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mail ballots have been issued within his or her district.

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      (f) If a ballot is returned to the secretary of state by the postal service as undeliverable,

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the secretary of state shall consult with the appropriate local board to determine the accuracy of

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the mailing address, and the secretary of state shall be required to remail the ballot to the voter

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using the corrected address provided by the local board. If the local board is unable to provide a

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different address than that to which the ballot was originally mailed, the ballot shall be reissued

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by the secretary of state to the board of canvassers in the city or town where the voter resides

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utilizing the numerical or alphabetical code established in subsection (d) of this section. The

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board shall then attempt to notify the voter at his or her place of residence that the ballot has been

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returned as undeliverable. The ballot must be voted and witnessed in accordance with the

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provisions of this chapter.

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      (g) The acceptance of a mail ballot application by the board of canvassers and the

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issuance of a mail ballot by the secretary of state shall not create any presumption as to the

 

LC002217 - Page 2 of 4

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accuracy of the information provided by the applicant or as to the applicant's compliance with the

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provisions of this chapter. Any inaccuracy in the provided information or irregularity in the

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application may be raised as a challenge to the ballot before the board of elections at the time of

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certification. If the challenge raised at that time is meritorious, the ballot shall be voided.

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      (h) Within two (2) business days of receipt by the local board, the board shall certify

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emergency mail ballot applications and shall cause the delivery of the emergency mail ballot

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applications, and certification sheet in sealed packages to the state board of elections.

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     17-20-19. Envelopes for return of ballots. -- Envelopes for the enclosure and return of

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mail ballots and their enclosing certified envelope shall have the printed or written address:

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"Board of Elections, 50 Branch Ave., Providence, Rhode Island 02904-2790" of the board of

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elections; and shall be forwarded by the secretary of state to each mail voter whose application

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for the mail ballot has been received and accepted.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - MAIL BALLOTS

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     This act would eliminate the statutory reference to the 50 Branch Ave., Providence, RI

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address on mail ballot envelopes provided by the secretary of state, and would instead require the

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address of the board of elections be placed on return envelopes.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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