2025 -- H 5709

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LC001962

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-20-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-20-9. Application by permanently disabled or incapacitated voters and nursing

home residents. Application to be placed on the permanent mail ballot application list.

     (a) A voter who is indefinitely confined because of physical illness or infirmity or is

disabled for an indefinite period or who is a long-term resident in a nursing home, may, by signing

an affidavit to that effect an application, may request that a mail ballot application be sent to him

or her automatically for every election. The affidavit form application and instructions shall be

prescribed by the secretary of state, and furnished upon request to any elector by each local board

of canvassers. The envelope containing the mail ballot application shall be clearly marked as not

forwardable. If any elector is no longer an eligible voter indefinitely confined or is no longer

residing in a nursing home, he or she shall notify the clerk of the local board of canvassers of this

fact. The clerk local board shall remove the name of any voter from the mailing list established

under this section upon receipt of reliable information that a voter no longer qualifies for the

service. The voter shall be notified of the action within five (5) days after the board takes the action.

     (b) The affidavit form application and instructions prescribed in this section shall be mailed

to the applicant along with a stamped return envelope addressed to the local boards of canvassers.

The secretary of state may process applications pursuant to this section through the online mail

ballot application portal established by § 17-20-2.3.

     (c) For purposes of this section, “nursing home” refers to facilities defined and licensed by

the department of health. “Long-term” excludes any residents temporarily residing in such a facility

for rehabilitation.

     (d) The secretary of state shall maintain a list in the central voter registration system of all

voters who automatically receive applications for mail ballots, pursuant to this section.

     (e) [Expires December 31, 2025.] Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically

receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by

voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). This

electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility

standards.

     (f) [Expires December 31, 2025.] For purposes of this section, “eligible disabled voter”

means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would

be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness,

or a serious impairment of mobility.

     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 modernize and streamline the existing processes for getting on the

permanent mail ballot application list.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001962

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