2022 -- H 8103

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LC005687

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Newberry, Shanley, and Quattrocchi

     Date Introduced: April 06, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-20-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail

Ballots" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-20-14. Voting from hospitals, convalescent homes, nursing homes, rest homes or

similar institutions public or private within the State of Rhode Island -- Penalty for

interference.

     (a) The state board of elections shall appoint as many bipartisan pairs of supervisors as are

necessary whose duty it shall be to attend each hospital, rest home, nursing home and convalescent

home, or similar types of personal care facility in the state within twenty (20) thirty (30) days prior

to the election. The appointees shall only act jointly when performing their duties pursuant to this

section; while acting singularly shall be a violation of § 17-20-30. Within thirty (30) days prior to

the election, the board's appointment of the bipartisan pair of supervisors shall be submitted to the

chair of each recognized political party, and each chair shall have ten (10) days thereafter to replace

the appointed supervisor with an individual of their choice representing their political party. They

shall supervise the casting of votes by persons using mail ballots at a place that preserves their

secrecy and shall take acknowledgments or serve as witnesses, and jointly provide assistance, if

requested, to assure proper marking, sealing, and mailing of ballots as voted. Every mail ballot cast

by a patient in a hospital or convalescent home within this state must be witnessed by the state

supervisors. It shall be the duty of the person or persons in charge of hospitals, rest homes, nursing

homes and convalescent homes, or similar types of personal care facility to allow the state

supervisors to perform their duties as set forth in this section at all reasonable times. Every person

who willfully hinders the state supervisors in performing their duties as set forth in this section

shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

     (b) It shall be the responsibility of the state board of elections to provide all bipartisan pairs

of supervisors with an official identification card. All bipartisan pairs of supervisors will be

required to have in their possession their identification card when conducting official business.

     (c) Any person who deliberately misrepresents themselves as an official of the board of

elections, or who deceives, coerces, or interferes with a voter casting a ballot, shall be subject to

prosecution under § 17-20-30.

     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

***

     This act would change the amount of time the board of elections has to appoint the

bipartisan pairs of supervisors, for mail ballot execution at personal care facilities from twenty (20)

days to thirty (30) days. It would expressly prohibit one member of the supervisors from acting

singularly. Finally, it would authorize the chairs of each major political party to replace any board-

appointed supervisors prior to the day of the election.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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