2015 -- H 6051

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LC002305

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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 - REGISTRATIONS OF VOTERS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Regunberg, Handy, Keable, Blazejewski, and Barros

     Date Introduced: April 08, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Secretary of State)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-9.1-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-9.1 entitled

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"Registration of Voters" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-9.1-10. Additional method of registering. -- (a) In addition to the methods for

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registering to vote provided in §§ 17-9.1-7, 17-9.1-8, and 17-9.1-9, and 17-9.1-34 whenever any

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person who is or may be by the next election qualified to vote desires to register, that person may

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appear before the local board of the city or town in which he or she has his or her residence, as

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defined in § 17-1-3.1, or before the clerk or other duly authorized agent of the board, or before a

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registrar appointed by the state board of elections, and shall furnish the information required of

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him or her by this chapter and any information described in §§ 17-9.1-23 and 17-9.1-24 that the

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registrant may wish to record, and after the information has been recorded on the registry card

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furnished for that purpose, the person shall sign his or her name and certify to the truth of the

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facts recorded in the appropriate spaces in the card; provided, whenever any person is unable to

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sign his or her name because of physical incapacity or otherwise, he or she shall make his mark

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"(X)", which shall be witnessed by the person receiving the registration.

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      (b) It shall be the duty of the local board or clerk or other duly authorized agent of the

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board or registrar of the state board of elections to inform the person registering to vote that the

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voter will be mailed an acknowledgement card advising the person of the disposition of the

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registration and in the process verifying that the person resides at the address provided on the

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registration form. The person shall also be advised that if the acknowledgement card is returned

 

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as undeliverable, the person will be placed on the inactive list of voters pending the results of the

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confirmation process described in § 17-9.1-26. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed

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to entitle a person to vote whose registration form has not been filed with the local board at least

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thirty (30) days before an election.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 17-9.1 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Voters" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     17-9.1-34. Electronic registration of voters. -- (a) The secretary of state shall establish

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and maintain a system for electronic voter registration that must be administered by the secretary

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of state. An applicant may use such system to register to vote, or to update existing voter

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registration information, provided:

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      (1) The applicant's information is verifiable in the manner described in subsection (b) of

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this section;

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     (2) The applicant's signature is in a database described in subsection (b) of this section;

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and

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     (3) Such signature may be imported into such system for electronic voter registration.

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     (b) Upon request of the secretary of state, a state agency, quasi-public agency or

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municipality shall provide information to the secretary of state that the secretary of state deems

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necessary to maintain the system for electronic voter registration. The secretary of state may

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verify applicant information by cross-referencing information submitted by applicants with data

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or information contained in any state agency, quasi-public agency or municipality's database or a

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database administered by the federal government, or any voter registration database of another

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state. The secretary of state shall not use the information obtained from any such database except

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to verify information submitted by the applicant. The applicant's signature, if part of the data

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contained in the state agency, quasi-public agency or municipality's database, shall be included as

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part of the applicant's information contained in the system for electronic voter registration.

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     (c) The submission of an electronic application shall contain all of the information that is

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required for an application in accordance with the provisions of § 17-9.1-9, with the exception of

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the signature which shall be obtained from another state agency, quasi-public agency, or

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municipality's database pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

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     (d) An applicant using the system shall mark the box associated with the following

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statement included as part of the electronic application:

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     "By clicking on the box below, I swear or affirm all of the following under penalty of

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perjury:

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     (1) I am the person whose name and identifying information is provided on this form, and

 

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I desire to register to vote or update my voter registration information in the State of Rhode

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Island.

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     (2) All of the information I have provided on this form is true and correct as of the date I

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am submitting this form.

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     (3) I authorize a Rhode Island state agency, quasi-public agency, or municipality to

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transmit, for voter registration purposes, to the secretary of state and my city/town's board of

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canvassers my signature that is on file with such agency, quasi-public agency or municipality. I

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understand that the secretary of state and my city/town's board of canvassers will use such

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signature on this electronic voter registration application as if I had signed this form personally."

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     (e) Upon approval of such application, the boards of canvassers shall send a confirmation

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notice to the applicant.

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     (f) The secretary of state may enter into an agreement and provide information or data

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with any other state in order to update the statewide central voter register. A Rhode Island state

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agency shall provide the secretary of state with information or data to be used for voter

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registration purposes and shall advise the secretary of state if such information or data is held

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confidential.

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     SECTION 3. Sections 17-20-2.2, 17-20-3 and 17-20-23 of the General Laws in Chapter

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17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-20-2.2. Requirements for validity of emergency mail ballots. -- Requirements for

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validity of emergency mail ballots and emergency mail ballot applications. -- (a) Any legally

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qualified elector of this state whose name appears upon the official voting list of the town or

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district of the city or town where the elector is so qualified, who on account of circumstances

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manifested twenty (20) days or less prior to any election becomes eligible to vote by mail ballot

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according to this chapter, may obtain from the local board an application for an emergency mail

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ballot.

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      (b) The emergency mail ballot application, when duly executed, shall be delivered in

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person or by mail so that it shall be received by the local board not later than four o'clock (4:00)

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p.m. on the last day preceding the date of the election.

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      (c) The elector shall execute the emergency mail ballot application in accordance with

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the requirements of this chapter, which application shall contain a certificate setting forth the

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facts relating to the circumstances necessitating the application.

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      (d) In addition to those requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter, an emergency

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mail ballot, in order to be valid, must have been cast in conformance with the following

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procedures:

 

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      (1) All mail ballots issued pursuant to subdivision 17-20-2(1) shall be mailed to the

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elector at the State of Rhode Island address provided on the application by the office of the

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secretary of state, or delivered by the local board to a person presenting written authorization

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from the elector to receive the ballots, or cast in private at the local board of canvassers. In order

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to be valid, the signature of the voter on the certifying envelope containing a voted ballot must be

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made before a notary public, or other person authorized by law to administer oaths where signed,

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or where the elector voted, or before two (2) witnesses who shall set forth their addresses on the

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form. In order to be valid, all ballots sent to the elector at the board of canvassers must be voted

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in conformance with the provisions of § 17-20-14.2.

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      (2) All applications for emergency mail ballots pursuant to subdivision 17-20-2(2) must

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state under oath the name and location of the hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, or

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similar institution where the elector is confined. All mail ballots issued pursuant to this

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subdivision shall be delivered to the elector by the bi-partisan pair of supervisors, appointed in

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conformance with this chapter, and shall be voted and witnessed in conformance with the

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provisions of § 17-20-14.

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      (3) All mail ballots issued pursuant to subdivision 17-20-2(3) shall be mailed by the

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office of the secretary of state to the elector at an address provided by the elector on the

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application, or cast at the board of canvassers in the city or town where the elector maintains his

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or her voting residence. The signature of the elector on the certifying envelope containing the

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voted ballots issued pursuant to the subdivision does not need to be notarized or witnessed. Any

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voter qualified to receive a mail ballot pursuant to subdivision 17-20-2(3) shall also be entitled to

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cast a ballot pursuant to the provisions of United States Public Law 99-410 ("UOCAVA Act").

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      (4) All mail ballots issued pursuant to subdivision 17-20-2(4) shall be cast at the board of

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canvassers in the city or town where the elector maintains his or her voting residence or mailed

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by the office of the secretary of state to the elector at the address within the United States

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provided by the elector on the application, or delivered to the voter by a person presenting written

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authorization by the voter to pick up the ballot. In order to be valid, the signature of the voter on

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all certifying envelopes containing a voted ballot must be made before a notary public, or other

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person authorized by law to administer oaths where signed, or where the elector voted, or before

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two (2) witnesses who shall set forth their addresses on the form. In order to be valid, all ballots

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sent to the elector at the board of canvassers must be voted in conformance with the provisions of

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§ 17-20-14.2.

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      (e) The secretary of state shall provide each of the several boards of canvassers with a

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sufficient number of mail ballots for their voting districts so that the local boards may provide the

 

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appropriate ballot or ballots to the applicants. It shall be the duty of each board of canvassers to

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process each emergency ballot application in accordance with this chapter, and it shall be the duty

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of each board to return to the secretary of state any ballots not issued immediately after each

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election.

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      (f) Any person knowingly and willfully making a false application or certification, or

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knowingly and willfully aiding and abetting in the making of a false application or certification,

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shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the penalties provided for in § 17-26-1.

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     17-20-3. Definitions. -- (a) Wherever used in this chapter, every word importing only the

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masculine gender is construed to extend to, and include, females as well as males.

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      (b) Whenever used in this chapter, "bipartisan pairs of supervisors" for primaries means

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a supervisor representing the endorsed candidates and a supervisor representing a majority of

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unendorsed candidates, and for nonpartisan elections and primaries means non-partisan pairs of

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supervisors.

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      (c) Wherever used in this chapter, "employed outside of the United States" includes any

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person who is:

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      (1) Employed by any agency, department or division of the United States government

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and who, by reason of that employment, resides outside of the continental United States;

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      (2) Employed outside the territorial limits of the United States; or

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      (3) A spouse or dependent residing with persons so employed.

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      (d) Wherever used in this chapter "services intimately connected with military

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operations" includes members of religious groups or welfare agencies assisting members of the

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armed forces who are officially attached to and serving with the armed forces and their spouses

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and dependents, and the spouses and dependents of members of the armed forces and of the

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merchant marine; provided, that the spouses and dependents are residing outside of the state with

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the members of the armed forces, merchant marine, or members of the religious or welfare

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agencies.

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      (e) Whenever a signature is required by a voter in this chapter, "signature" also means

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the voter's mark "X" if the person is unable to sign his or her name because of physical incapacity

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or otherwise.

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      (f) Whenever used in this chapter, "bipartisan" means not of the same recognized

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political party.

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     (g) Wherever used in this chapter, "family member" includes spouse, brother, sister,

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parent, grandparent, child, adopted child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-

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law, son-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, or legal guardian.

 

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     17-20-23. Marking and certification of ballot. [Effective January 1, 2015.] -- (a) A

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voter may vote for the candidates of the voter's choice by making a mark in the space provided

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opposite their respective names.

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      (b) In case a voter desires to vote upon a question submitted to the vote of the electors of

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the state, the voter shall mark in the appropriate space associated with the answer that the voter

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desires to give.

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      (c) Voters receiving a mail ballot pursuant to § 17-20-2(1), (2), and (4) shall mark the

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ballot in the presence of two (2) witnesses or some officer authorized by the law of the place

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where marked to administer oaths. Voters receiving a mail ballot pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) do not

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need to have their ballot witnessed or notarized. Except as otherwise provided for by this chapter,

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the voter shall not allow the official or witnesses to see how he or she marks the ballot and the

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official or witnesses shall hold no communication with the voter, nor the voter with the official or

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witnesses, as to how the voter is to vote. Thereafter, the voter shall enclose and seal the ballot in

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the envelope provided for it. The voter shall then execute before the official or witnesses the

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certification on the envelope. The voter shall then enclose and seal the certified envelope with the

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ballot in the envelope addressed to the state board and cause the envelope to be delivered to the

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state board on or before election day mail to the state board, deliver in-person at the office of the

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state board, or provide to a family member for delivery in-person at the office of the state board

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on or before election day.

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      (d) These ballots shall be counted only if received within the time limited by this

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chapter.

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      (e) There shall be a space provided on the general election ballot to allow the voter to

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write in the names of persons not in nomination by any party as provided for in §§ 17-19-31 and

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17-20-24.

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     SECTION 4. Title 17 of the General Laws entitled "ELECTIONS" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 20.1

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IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING

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     17-20.1-1. Declaration of policy. -- (a) Improving access and convenience for registered

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voters with regard to casting a ballot is critical to ensuring that the voice of democracy is heard.

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Presently, at least thirty-two (32) states plus the District of Columbia provide citizens with an

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opportunity to vote early and in-person.

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     (b) While an election day is designated as the time when the majority of voters cast their

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ballots, the majority of Rhode Island voters did not vote in this most recent historic election in our

 

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state. To meet demands and challenges of modem life, additional opportunities to cast a ballot

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should be provided to increase voter turnout in Rhode Island. Designating a period of time

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leading up to election day where Rhode Islanders can vote in-person expands the opportunities to

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cast a ballot and participate in the electoral process.

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     17-20.1-2. In-person early voting. -- (a) In-person early voting shall be made available

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to any registered voter and eligible elector of this state whose name appears upon the official

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voting list of the district of the city or town where the elector is so qualified to vote for all

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elections.

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     (b) The in-person early voting period shall begin on the twenty-eighth day before a

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general or primary election and extend through the day before the general or primary election. In

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the case of a special election, the in-person early voting period shall begin by the twenty-first day

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before the special election and extend through the day before the special election.

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     (c) During the in-person early voting period as set forth in subsection (b) above, in-

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person early voting shall take place at locations to be determined by each local board and

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approved by the state board, with no fewer than one location for each town or city. Prior to the

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beginning of the in-person early voting period, adequate notice of at least seven (7) days shall be

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posted at each local board's office informing the public of the locations where in-person early

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voting is being conducted. Said notice shall be filed electronically with the secretary of state in

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accordance with § 42-46-6(f). Such notice shall also be posted on the city or town's website, if

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any, the website of the secretary of state, the board of elections website, and the websites of the

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local boards of canvassers, if any.

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     Effective January l, 2016, in-person early voting shall take place during normal business

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hours in each city or town on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. In-person

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early voting shall take place on the Saturday and Sunday preceding election day during the hours

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of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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     Effective January l, 2018, in-person early voting shall take place during normal business

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hours in each city or town on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. In-person

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early voting shall take place on the two (2) Saturdays and two (2) Sundays preceding election day

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during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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      Effective January 1, 2020 and thereafter, in-person early voting shall take place during

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normal business hours in each city or town on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and

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Friday. In­person early voting shall take place on the three (3) Saturdays and three (3) Sundays

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preceding election day during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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     (d) The local board shall provide a ballot and ballot envelope to an early voter to cast in

 

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private at the local board of canvassers. Once the early voter has completed the ballot, the early

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voter shall place the ballot in the ballot envelope and seal the envelope. An official of the local

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board shall mark the envelope with the appropriate voting precinct designation and return the

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envelope to the early voter. The early voter shall submit the envelope to the on-site official of the

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local board.

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     (e) The secretary of state shall conduct outreach programs throughout the state in order to

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educate the public with respect to in-person early voting.

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     (f) The secretary of state may convene an early voting implementation advisory

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committee comprised of the following:

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     (1) A representative from the board of elections;

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     (2) Three (3) representatives of the Rhode Island town and city clerks association;

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     (3) A member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house;

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     (4) A member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; and

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     (5) Three (3) representatives of the general public appointed by the secretary of state.

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     (g) The advisory committee shall undertake a study of early voting issues, including, but

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not limited to:

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     (1) Reductions in the length of lines, waiting in lines and congestion at polling places on

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election day;

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     (2) The administrative requirements of implementing and providing early voting;

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     (3) The feasibility of requiring additional early voting sites and hours;

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     (4) Expanding the use of technology in order to improve the election process;

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     (5) The process to apply for and to return mail and emergency mail ballots, including

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number of ballots cast by mail; and

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     (6) Violations of laws prohibiting fraudulent voting.

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     SECTION 5. 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 - REGISTRATIONS OF VOTERS

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     This act would establish in-person early voting, electronic registration of voters, prohibit

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the casting of emergency mail ballots at the local boards of canvassers, define "family member",

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and specify methods of delivery to state board.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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