Title 17
Elections

Chapter 20
Mail Ballots

§ 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 thirty-five (35) days prior to the date of statewide or federal elections; and provided, further, that the drop boxes shall be accessible beginning twenty (20) days prior to all special elections held under this title, 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 this title 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 a.m.

(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.