| Chapter 326 |
| 2024 -- H 7849 AS AMENDED Enacted 06/25/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS |
Introduced By: Representative Lauren H. Carson |
| Date Introduced: March 01, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 17-20-22.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail |
| Ballots" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 17-20-22.1. Mail ballot drop boxes. |
| (a) “Drop box” means the locked and secure container established and maintained by the |
| board of elections, in accordance with this section, that shall serve as a receptacle for the receipt of |
| mail and emergency ballots cast by voters. Every drop box established by the board of elections |
| shall be deemed to be the property of the board of elections and shall be accessible to the public, |
| beginning twenty (20) thirty-five (35) days prior to the date of a state election and statewide or |
| federal elections; and provided, further, that the drop boxes shall be accessible beginning twenty |
| (20) days prior to all special elections held under this title 17, available twenty-four (24) hours per |
| day and seven (7) days per week throughout this period, if established outside a municipal building, |
| and during the normal business hours of the facility if established inside a municipal building. All |
| drop boxes must be accessible on election day, from the time polls open until the time they close, |
| in accordance with §§ 17-18-10 and 17-18-11. Any ballot that is cast by a voter, as either a mail |
| ballot or emergency ballot, and is deposited into a drop box on or before the close of polls on |
| election day, shall be deemed to be received by and in the possession of the board of elections. At |
| the close of polls on election day, upon the last ballot deposited by any person in line at that time, |
| a designated agent of the board of elections shall lock the ballot slot of the drop box to ensure that |
| no other ballots are deposited in the drop box; provided, further, if there is another election |
| scheduled to be held under this title 17 in the city or town within thirty-five (35) days after the drop |
| box is locked pursuant to this section, the drop box shall be reopened, if applicable, the following |
| day at 8:30 ama.m.. |
| (b) Drop boxes must be labeled “State of Rhode Island Official Ballot Drop Box for Mail |
| Ballots,” and include language about postage and display the official seal of the board of elections. |
| Drop boxes must be accessible by persons with disabilities. Drop boxes shall be monitored by a |
| video surveillance system. |
| (c) No town or city shall have fewer than one drop box. A drop box may be established |
| inside a municipal building, only if the building remains open and accessible to the public |
| throughout the prescribed time period prior to election day and until the close of the polls, in |
| accordance with § 17-18-10. A drop box shall also be placed outside the office of the board of |
| elections and the election division of the office of the secretary of state. Drop boxes must be placed |
| in locations that are accessible to persons with disabilities. |
| (d) Each local board of canvassers shall determine the location of every drop box located |
| within the geographic area over which that local board has authority, in accordance with the |
| regulations promulgated by the board of elections. |
| (e) Each drop box shall not accept the deposit of mail ballots after the last person in line to |
| deposit a ballot in that drop box at the time the polls close, on the day of the election, has deposited |
| their ballot. |
| (f) Each local board shall make the location of every drop box within the area over which |
| it has authority publicly available on its website, to the extent feasible. The board of elections shall |
| make the location of all drop boxes located within the state publicly available at its office and on |
| its website. |
| (g) The board of elections shall designate one or more staff members of each local board |
| of canvassers as the official agents of the board of elections, for purposes of retrieving ballots |
| deposited in drop boxes and establish a schedule and process by which drop boxes are regularly |
| emptied and any ballots they contain are securely and promptly transported to the board of |
| elections. |
| (h) The board of elections shall promulgate regulations consistent with this section, |
| including regulations for the location of drop boxes and the receipt, storage, security, regular |
| collection, and transportation of the mail ballots returned. |
| (i) The board of elections may promulgate regulations for the use of drop boxes for |
| depositing mail ballot applications during the applicable timeframe for accepting mail ballot |
| applications. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005579 |
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