2021 -- H 5943

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LC001970

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Arthur J. Corvese

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2021

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     (Board of Elections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-20-29 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail

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Ballots" is hereby repealed.

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     17-20-29. Mail applicant not permitted to vote at polls.

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     (a) No person, or one claiming to be that person, whose name has been marked upon any

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voting list, provided for official use at any election, with the mark as provided by ยง 17-20-10, shall

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be permitted to vote in person at the election; provided, that the person may re-establish his or her

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right to vote in person by presenting himself or herself at that person's local board on or before

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election day and surrendering his or her mail ballot. Upon that surrender the person's name shall be

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restored to the voting list. Any person whose name has been marked on the voting list may also be

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permitted to vote in person if that person executes and delivers to the local board an affidavit stating

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that the person did not receive the mail ballot, or that the mail ballot was lost or destroyed.

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     (b) Each local board shall, immediately after the close of the polls, certify and deliver to

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the state board the names and addresses of all persons restored to the voting list, together with the

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affidavits and surrendered ballots received pursuant to this section.

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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 repeal a mail ballot section entitled "Mail applicant not permitted to vote at

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polls." The purpose of this repeal is to follow the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and to

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account for permitting voters to cast provisional ballots at the polling place.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001970

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