2015 -- S 0636

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LC001980

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - MAIL BALLOTS

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-20-23 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail

Ballots" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-20-23. Marking and certification of ballot. [Effective January 1, 2015.] -- (a) A

voter may vote for the candidates of the voter's choice by making a mark in the space provided

opposite their respective names.

      (b) In case a voter desires to vote upon a question submitted to the vote of the electors of

the state, the voter shall mark in the appropriate space associated with the answer that the voter

desires to give.

      (c) Voters receiving a mail ballot pursuant to § 17-20-2(1), (2), and (4) shall mark the

ballot in the presence of two (2) witnesses or some officer authorized by the law of the place

where marked to administer oaths. Voters receiving a mail ballot pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) do not

need to have their ballot witnessed or notarized. Except as otherwise provided for by this chapter,

the voter shall not allow the official or witnesses to see how he or she marks the ballot and the

official or witnesses shall hold no communication with the voter, nor the voter with the official or

witnesses, as to how the voter is to vote. Thereafter, the voter shall enclose and seal the ballot in

the envelope provided for it. The voter shall then execute before the official or witnesses the

certification on the envelope. The voter shall then enclose and seal the certified envelope with the

ballot in the envelope addressed to the state board and cause the certified envelope containing the

ballot to be delivered to the state board not later than the time prescribed by § 17-18-11 for the

closing of polling places on the day of election. on or before election day.

      (d) These ballots shall be counted only if received within the time limited by this

chapter.

      (e) There shall be a space provided on the general election ballot to allow the voter to

write in the names of persons not in nomination by any party as provided for in §§ 17-19-31 and

17-20-24.

     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 eliminate the need for the certified envelope containing the mail ballot to

be placed in the outer envelope. The certified envelope must be delivered to the board of elections

by closing time of the polling place on Election Day.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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