Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies
Section 17-19-19. - Custody of machines during voting.

§ 17-19-19. Custody of machines during voting.
During the time that the polls are open, and until the optical scan precinct count unit and voted computer ballots are finally locked and sealed and the removable keys thereof sealed up for transmission to the state board as provided in this chapter, the optical scan precinct count units, memory cartridges, and voted computer ballots shall remain in the care and custody of the warden, who shall see that the voting equipment is not defaced or injured by any voter or any other person. During the entire time in which the polls are open for voting, the ballot compartments shall be kept closed and locked; provided, that the emergency bin compartment slot shall be opened as provided in § 17-19-20. The vote totals are not to be printed under any circumstances during the time the polls are open for voting.
History of Section.P.L. 1935, ch. 2195, § 15; P.L. 1938, ch. 2640, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 318, § 11; P.L. 1940, ch. 818, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-22; G.L. 1956, § 17-19-19; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 12; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 12.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 17 - Elections

Chapter 17-19 - Conduct of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies

Section 17-19-1. - Definitions.

Section 17-19-2. - Voting equipment.

Section 17-19-2.1. - New voting technology.

Section 17-19-3. - Voting equipment and services — Specifications.

Section 17-19-3.1. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-3.2. - Polling place accessibility for voters who are disabled or elderly.

Section 17-19-3.3. - Telephones at polling places.

Section 17-19-3.4. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-3.5 - — 17-19-3.15. Repealed.

Section 17-19-4. - Voting booths and optical scan precinct count units — Number to be furnished.

Section 17-19-4.1. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-4.2. - Moderator request — Computerized voting machines.

Section 17-19-5. - Printing and furnishing of computer ballots.

Section 17-19-6. - Ballot — Arrangement.

Section 17-19-6.1. - Local questions on the ballot.

Section 17-19-7. - Local candidates and questions — Certification — Ballots.

Section 17-19-7.1. - Listing of at-large candidates.

Section 17-19-7.2. - Names of candidates.

Section 17-19-8. - Ballots — Form.

Section 17-19-8.1. - Ballots for voters who are blind, visually impaired, or disabled.

Section 17-19-8.2. - State-of-the-art voting technology.

Section 17-19-9. - Party emblems.

Section 17-19-9.1. - Ballot arrangement — Independent candidates.

Section 17-19-10. - Sample ballots — Contents — Distribution.

Section 17-19-10.1. - Training and community outreach.

Section 17-19-11. - Election return forms — Contents.

Section 17-19-12. - Delivery of election supplies.

Section 17-19-13. - Exhibition of machines for instructional purposes.

Section 17-19-14. - Preparation of voting equipment for election — Testing.

Section 17-19-15. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-16. - State election inspectors — Appointment — Duties — Training — Compensation.

Section 17-19-17. - Custody of optical scan precinct count units and voting booths — Duties of local boards — Posting of sample ballots.

Section 17-19-18. - Examination of voting equipment prior to opening of polls.

Section 17-19-19. - Custody of machines during voting.

Section 17-19-20. - Repair or replacement of defective machines.

Section 17-19-21. - Arrangement of polling places — Election officials — Police officers.

Section 17-19-21.1. - Polling place bake sales.

Section 17-19-22. - Party checkers, runners, and watchers.

Section 17-19-22.1. - Bilingual poll workers.

Section 17-19-23. - Wardens and supervisors — Powers and duties.

Section 17-19-23.1. - Certification and appointment of election officials.

Section 17-19-23.2. - Compensation of election officials.

Section 17-19-23.3. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-24. - Procedure for voting.

Section 17-19-24.1. - Provisional voting under the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Section 17-19-24.2. - Voter identification.

Section 17-19-24.3. - Provisional ballot procedures.

Section 17-19-25. - Certified voting list — Duty of bipartisan supervisor.

Section 17-19-26. - Models for instruction — Assistance to voters in marking their ballot.

Section 17-19-26.1. - Voting assistance.

Section 17-19-27. - Challenge of identity as to right to vote.

Section 17-19-28. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-29. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-30. - Voters who register by making a mark rather than signature.

Section 17-19-31. - Irregular ballots.

Section 17-19-32. - Recording and signing of returns.

Section 17-19-33. - Sealing of voting equipment — Sealing and forwarding of results, programmed memory devices and keys.

Section 17-19-34. - Declaration of results and certificates of election in towns not divided into districts.

Section 17-19-35. - Guarding optical scan precinct count units until resumption of custody by board.

Section 17-19-36. - Tabulation of town returns — Certificate of election.

Section 17-19-37. - Tabulation of state returns — Certificate of election.

Section 17-19-37.1. - Recount eligibility — Candidates for public office.

Section 17-19-37.2. - Recount eligibility — Write-in candidates for public office.

Section 17-19-37.3. - Recount eligibility — Ballot questions and other offices.

Section 17-19-37.4. - Post-election audits.

Section 17-19-38. - Custody of optical scan precinct count units pending return to storage.

Section 17-19-39. - Power to open voting equipment.

Section 17-19-39.1. - Voted ballot storage and security.

Section 17-19-40. - Repealed.

Section 17-19-41. - Violations by public officers.

Section 17-19-42. - Tampering with voting equipment.

Section 17-19-43. - Tampering with sample ballot.

Section 17-19-44. - Officer tampering with voting equipment.

Section 17-19-45. - Fraudulent election returns.

Section 17-19-46. - False instructions as to marking a computer ballot and the operation of optical scan precinct count units.

Section 17-19-47. - Improper possession of voting equipment keys or duplicates.

Section 17-19-48. - Posting of original voter registration records.

Section 17-19-49. - Political literature and influence.

Section 17-19-50. - Candidates listing on ballot.

Section 17-19-51. - Priority for elderly voters.

Section 17-19-52. - Priority for disabled voters.

Section 17-19-53. - Voter accompanied by children within voting booth.

Section 17-19-54. - Bilingual voting material requirements.