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H 7787Elections & Voting

Elections - Mail Ballots

This bill formally codifies "Early Voting" into its own legal section, separating it from "emergency mail ballot" regulations and applying Election Day standards.

Held for study
Population
Affected
65
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 12, 2026Committee House State Government & Elections

Plain-English Summary

This legislation reorganizes Rhode Island election laws to formally establish a specific statutory section for "Early Voting." Previously, in-person voting prior to Election Day was legally classified under "emergency mail ballots." This bill removes those provisions from the mail ballot chapter and creates a new section explicitly titled "Early voting." It mandates that early voters use electronic poll pads, present valid identification, and cast their ballots into state-approved electronic voting devices. Additionally, it stipulates that the legal protections and procedures governing Election Day will apply to the twenty-day early voting period as practicable.

For younger readers

This bill changes the rules for how people vote before Election Day. Before, if you wanted to vote early in person, the law technically called it an "emergency." Now, the law will officially call it "Early Voting." It says that when people go to vote early, they have to use a special electronic pad to sign in, show their ID, and put their ballot into a machine, just like on the real Election Day. It makes sure the safety rules for early voting are the same as the rules for voting on the big day.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
VotersBoard of CanvassersElection OfficialsSecretary of StatePolitical Candidates
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Formalizes early voting by moving it out of "emergency" classifications, thereby normalizing and securing access to the ballot box for individuals who cannot vote on Election Day.
  • Ensures that the standard voter protections and procedures used on Election Day are applied to the early voting period, safeguarding voter rights and election integrity.
  • Maintains the streamlined use of electronic poll pads, which helps modernize the voting process and reduce wait times for working-class voters.
  • Retains the requirement for valid proof of identity (Voter ID) to cast a ballot, which many progressives argue creates barriers for marginalized and minority communities.
  • Does not expand the early voting window beyond the existing twenty days, missing an opportunity to further broaden access for those with difficult work schedules.
  • The inclusion of the phrase "as practicable" regarding election protections could potentially be used by officials to justify lapses in standard procedures or oversight.
For Conservatives
  • Reinforces the mandate for valid proof of identity (Voter ID) for all early voters, ensuring that only eligible individuals are casting ballots.
  • Requires that ballots be placed immediately into state-approved electronic voting devices, ensuring secure tabulation and reducing the risk of ballot harvesting or mishandling.
  • Applies strict Election Day protections and procedures to the early voting period, which typically includes provisions for poll watchers and rigorous oversight.
  • Codifies early voting as a permanent, standalone institution, which some conservatives believe undermines the tradition and security of a single Election Day.
  • Validates "no-excuse" voting by removing the process from "emergency" classifications, potentially moving further away from limited absentee voting models.
  • Maintains a twenty-day voting period which extends the burden on election officials and increases the complexity of monitoring the election process.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 11 additions · 8 deletions

SECTION 1. Sections 17-20-2.2 and 17-20-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows: 17-20-2.2. Requirements for validity of emergency mail ballots.

(a) Any legally qualified elector of this state whose name appears upon the official voting list of the town or district of the city or town where the elector is so qualified is eligible to vote by emergency mail ballot according to this chapter. Within twenty (20) days or less prior to any election, the elector may obtain from the local board an application for an emergency mail ballot or may complete an emergency in-person mail ballot application on an electronic poll pad at the board of canvassers where the elector maintains his or her residence.

(b) The emergency mail ballot application, when duly executed, shall be delivered in person or by mail so that it shall be received by the local board, or received electronically through the portal established by § 17-20-2.3, not later than four o’clock (4:00) p.m. on the last day preceding the date of the election.

(c) The elector shall execute the emergency mail ballot application in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(d) In addition to those requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter, an emergency mail ballot, except those emergency mail ballots being cast pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, in order to be valid, must have been cast in conformance with the following procedures:

(1) All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(1) shall be mailed to the elector at the state of Rhode Island address provided on the application by the office of the secretary of state, or delivered by the local board to a person presenting written authorization from the elector to receive the ballots, or cast in private at the local board of canvassers. In order to be valid, the voter must affix his or her signature on the certifying envelope containing a voted ballot. In order to be valid, all ballots sent to the elector at the board of canvassers must be voted in conformance with the provisions of § 17-20-14.2.

(2) All applications for emergency mail ballots pursuant to § 17-20-2(2) must state under oath the name and location of the hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, or similar institution where the elector is confined. All mail ballots issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be delivered to the elector by the bipartisan pair of supervisors, appointed in conformance with this chapter, and shall be voted in conformance with the provisions of § 17-20-14.

(3) All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) shall be mailed by the office of the secretary of state to the elector at an address provided by the elector on the application, or cast at the board of canvassers in the city or town where the elector maintains his or her voting residence. Any voter qualified to receive a mail ballot pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) shall also be entitled to cast a ballot pursuant to the provisions of United States Public Law 99-410, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

(4) All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(4) shall be cast at the board of canvassers in the city or town where the elector maintains his or her voting residence or mailed by the office of the secretary of state to the elector at the address within the United States provided by the elector on the application, or delivered to the voter by a person presenting written authorization by the voter to pick up the ballot. In order to be valid, the voter must affix his or her signature on all certifying envelopes containing a voted ballot. In order to be valid, all ballots sent to the elector at the board of canvassers must be voted in conformance with the provisions of § 17-20-14.2.

(e) The secretary of state shall provide each of the several boards of canvassers with a sufficient number of mail ballots for their voting districts so that the local boards may provide the appropriate ballot or ballots to the applicants. It shall be the duty of each board of canvassers to process each emergency ballot application in accordance with this chapter, and it shall be the duty of each board to return to the secretary of state any ballots not issued immediately after each election.

(f) Any person knowingly and willfully making a false application or certification, or knowingly and willfully aiding and abetting in the making of a false application or certification, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the penalties provided for in § 17-26-1.

(g) An emergency mail ballot application may be completed in person using an electronic poll pad provided by the board of canvassers upon presentation by the voter of valid proof of identity pursuant to § 17-19-24.2. Upon completion of the poll pad application, the voter shall be provided with a ballot issued by the secretary of state and upon completion of the ballot by the voter, the voter shall place the ballot into the state-approved electronic voting device, provided by the board of elections and secured in accordance with a policy adopted by the board of elections. 17-20-3. Definitions.

(a) Wherever used in this chapter, every word importing only the masculine gender is construed to extend to, and include, females as well as males.

(b) Whenever used in this chapter, “bipartisan pairs of supervisors” for primaries means a supervisor representing the endorsed candidates and a supervisor representing a majority of unendorsed candidates, and for nonpartisan elections and primaries means nonpartisan pairs of supervisors.

(c) Wherever used in this chapter, “employed outside of the United States” includes any person who is:

(1) Employed by any agency, department, or division of the United States government and who, by reason of that employment, resides outside of the continental United States;

(2) Employed outside the territorial limits of the United States; or

(3) A spouse or dependent residing with persons so employed.

(d) Wherever used in this chapter, “services intimately connected with military operations” includes members of religious groups or welfare agencies assisting members of the armed forces who are officially attached to and serving with the armed forces and their spouses and dependents, and the spouses and dependents of members of the armed forces and of the merchant marine; provided, that the spouses and dependents are residing outside of the state with the members of the armed forces, merchant marine, or members of the religious or welfare agencies.

(e) Whenever a signature is required by a voter in this chapter, “signature” also means the voter’s mark if the person is unable to sign their name because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, or by affixing the voter’s signature by a person providing assistance to the voter in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(f) Whenever used in this chapter, “bipartisan” means not of the same recognized political party.

(g) Whenever used in this chapter, “emergency” voting pursuant to § 17-20-2.2(g) shall be construed to mean “early” voting.

SECTION 2. Chapter 17-19 of the General Laws entitled "Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 17-19-24.4. Early voting.

(a) An early voting ballot application may be completed in person using an electronic poll pad provided by the board of canvassers, upon presentation by the voter of valid proof of identity, pursuant to § 17-19-24.2. Upon the completion of the poll pad application, the voter shall be provided with a ballot issued by the secretary of state and upon completion of the ballot by the voter, the voter shall place the ballot into the state-approved electronic voting device provided by the board of elections and secured in accordance with the policy adopted by the board of elections.

(b) As practicable, all the voter and election protections and procedures, provided by chapter 19 of title 17 on election day, shall govern the twenty (20) day early voting period.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.