2013 -- H 5781

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LC01840

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - MAIL BALLOTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Johnston, Keable, Nunes, and Silva

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: House Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-20-16, 17-20-21 and 17-20-22 of the General Laws in Chapter

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17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-20-16. Time of casting vote. -- Mail ballots may be cast in the manner provided by

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law on or before election day; provided, that no mail ballot shall be counted unless it is received

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by the state board not later than nine o'clock (9:00) p.m. local time the time prescribed by section

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17-18-11 for the closing of polling places on election day.

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     17-20-21. Certifying envelopes. -- The secretary of state shall cause to be prepared and

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printed and shall furnish with each mail ballot an envelope for sealing up and certifying the ballot

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when returned. The envelope shall be printed in substantially the following form:

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     "After marking ballot or ballots, fold and enclose in this envelope and seal it. Certify to

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statement hereon. Enclose in envelope addressed to board of elections, which must receive the

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envelope not later than nine o'clock (9:00) p.m. the time prescribed by section 17-18-11 for the

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closing of polling places on the day of election."

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     Date of Election:______________ City/Town

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     of:______________________________

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     Certificate of Voter

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     Print Name of Voter

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     I swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that I am:

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     • I am a United States citizen;

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     • I am a resident and qualified voter of the State of Rhode Island;

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     • I am eligible to cast a mail ballot under the provisions of section 17-20-2; and

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     • I am not qualified to vote elsewhere.

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     Voter must sign full name here: ________________________________________

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     (If unable to sign name because of physical incapacity or otherwise, voter shall make his

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or her mark "(X)").

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     I hereby attest under penalty of perjury that the enclosed voted ballot was cast, and the

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signature or mark on this certifying envelope was made by the voter whose name appears on the

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label above.

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     Before me the _____________ day of ______________ 20________, at

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________________ (city or town), county of ________________, state of

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____________________, personally appeared the above named voter, to me known and known

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by me to be the person who affixed his or her signature to this ballot envelope.

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____________________________________________

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     Notary Public

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     Notary must also print his or her name

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     Witness:

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     __________________________ ______________________________

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     (Signature) (Residence)

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     Note: Mail ballots must either be sworn to before a notary public or before two (2)

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witnesses who must sign their names and addresses.

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     17-20-22. Certification envelopes for mail ballots of persons intimately connected

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with military service and persons employed outside of the United States. -- The distinctively

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colored certification envelope for persons intimately connected with military service and persons

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employed outside of the United States shall be printed in substantially the following form:

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     After marking ballot or ballots, fold and enclose in this envelope and seal it. Certify to

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statement hereon. Enclose in envelope addressed to board of elections, which must receive the

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envelope not later than nine o'clock (9:00) p.m. the time prescribed by section 17-18-11 for the

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closing of polling places on the day of election.

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     Date of Election______________ City/Town of__________________

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     Oath of Elector Casting the Enclosed

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     Ballot or Ballots

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     Print Name

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     I do hereby affirm, under penalty of perjury that:

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     • I am a United States citizen;

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     • I am a resident and qualified voter of the State of Rhode Island;

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     • I am eligible to cast a mail ballot, because I am one of the following:

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     • A member of the Uniformed Services or merchant marine on active duty or an eligible

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spouse or dependent.

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     • A U.S. citizen who will be outside the United States.

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     • I am not qualified to vote elsewhere.

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     ________________________________

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      (Signature of voter)

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01840

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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 that mail ballots be returned to the state board of elections by the

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closing time of the polls established by law on election day.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01840

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