RI 2026 S2486: Elections - Mail Ballots

Plain-English Summary

This legislation modifies the requirements for obtaining a mail ballot or an emergency mail ballot in Rhode Island. Specifically, it mandates that any voter applying for a mail ballot must provide proof of their date of birth and include either their Rhode Island driver's license number or a state identification number on the application. This requirement applies to standard mail ballot applications as well as emergency applications submitted close to an election day. The bill aims to add a specific layer of identity verification to the mail-in voting application process.

For younger readers

When people want to vote by mail instead of going to a voting booth, they have to fill out a form to ask for a ballot. This new rule says that when someone fills out that form, they must write down their birthday and the number from their driver's license or state ID card. This helps the people running the election make sure that the person asking for the ballot is really who they say they are.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Voters applying for mail ballotsElderly residentsLow-income residentsBoard of CanvassersSecretary of State

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Strengthening identity verification protocols may undermine bad-faith arguments claiming widespread fraud in mail-in voting, potentially protecting the long-term viability and public acceptance of voting by mail.
Standardizing the specific data points required for applications could reduce subjective decision-making by local election officials, ensuring more consistent processing of voter requests across different towns.
Ensuring that voter applications are tied to state-issued IDs may help maintain accurate voter rolls, which contributes to the overall integrity and reliability of the democratic infrastructure.
Creates a barrier to voting for marginalized communities, including the poor, elderly, and minorities, who are statistically less likely to possess a current driver's license or state ID.
Adds a bureaucratic hurdle to the voting process that could result in the rejection of valid ballot applications due to clerical errors or lack of specific documentation at hand.
Does not provide an immediate, clear alternative mechanism in the text for voters who lack these specific forms of identification, potentially disenfranchising eligible citizens.

For Conservatives

Significantly enhances election security by ensuring that only verified individuals with state-issued identification can request and receive mail ballots, reducing the potential for fraud.
Restores faith in the electoral process by closing potential loopholes in the mail-in voting system, aligning with the principle that voting should be secure and regulated.
Promotes the rule of law by standardizing identification requirements, ensuring that mail-in voting requires a similar level of verification as other official state transactions.
Mandates the frequent sharing of sensitive personal identification numbers with government officials, raising concerns about data privacy and the security of government databases.
Increases reliance on the Department of Motor Vehicles and state bureaucracy to facilitate the fundamental right to vote, potentially subjecting voters to administrative inefficiencies.
Could inadvertently disenfranchise elderly conservative voters who no longer drive and may have let their licenses expire, preventing them from casting their ballots.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 8 additions

SECTION 1. Sections 17-20-2.1 and 17-20-2.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows: 17-20-2.1. Requirements for validity of mail ballot and mail ballot applications. (a)(1) Any legally qualified elector of this state whose name appears upon the official voting list of the city, town, or district of the city or town where the elector is qualified, and who desires to avail himself or herself of the right granted to him or her by the Constitution and declared in this chapter, may obtain from the local board in the city or town a form prepared by the secretary of state as prescribed in this section, setting forth the elector’s application for a mail ballot or may apply online in accordance with § 17-20-2.3.

(2) The application shall include proof of the voter's date of birth and a Rhode Island driver's license number or state identification number.

(b) Whenever any person is unable to sign their name because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, the voter or their assistant shall mark a box to indicate the voter cannot sign due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write and include the full name, residence address, signature, and optionally the telephone number and e-mail address, of the person who provided assistance to the voter on a form provided by the secretary of state. The representation relating to the voter’s inability to sign shall be made under the pains and penalties of perjury.

(c) To receive a ballot in the mail, an elector must submit an application in person or by mail, so that it is 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 twenty-first (21st) day before the day of any election referred to in § 17-20-1. In those cases where an application to receive a mail ballot is postmarked by the twenty-first (21st) day before the date of an election and received not later than eighteen (18) days before the date of an election, the application shall be considered received on or prior to the last day to apply for a mail ballot.

(d) In addition to those requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter, a mail ballot, 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 Rhode Island address provided by the elector on the application. In order to be valid, the voter must affix their signature on all certifying envelopes containing a voted ballot.

(2) All applications for 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 § 17-20-2(2) shall be delivered to the elector at the hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, or similar institution where the elector is confined.

(3) All mail ballots issued pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) shall be mailed to the address provided by the elector on the application or sent to the board of canvassers in the city or town where the elector maintains their voting residence. In order to be valid, the voter must affix their signature on the certifying envelope containing voted ballots. 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) may be mailed to the elector at the address within the United States provided by the elector on the application or sent to the board of canvassers in the city or town where the elector maintains their voting residence. In order to be valid, the voter must affix their 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) 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.

(f) In no way shall a mail ballot application be disqualified if the voter’s circumstances change between the time of making the application and voting their mail ballot as long as the voter remains qualified to receive a mail ballot under the provisions of § 17-20-2. The local board of canvassers shall provide the state board of elections with written notification of any change in circumstances to a mail ballot voter. 17-20-2.2. Requirements for validity of emergency mail ballots. (a)(1) 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.

(2) The application shall include proof of the voter's date of birth and a Rhode Island driver's license number or state identification number.

(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.

(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.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.