2021 -- S 0622

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LC001858

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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: Senator Cynthia Armour Coyne

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Board of Elections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Ballots" is hereby repealed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

affidavits and surrendered ballots received pursuant to this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001858

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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

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001858

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