2024 -- S 2780

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LC005583

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

     Introduced By: Senators F. Lombardi, Burke, LaMountain, Tikoian, DiPalma, Britto,
Valverde, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     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 elections held under 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 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 am.

     (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.

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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 require mail ballot drop boxes to be opened thirty-five (35) days prior to

election day, and twenty (20) days prior to special elections.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005583

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