§ 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) days prior to the election. They shall supervise the casting of votes by persons using mail ballots at a place that preserves their secrecy and shall take acknowledgments, and jointly provide assistance, if requested, to assure proper marking, sealing, and mailing of ballots as voted. 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.
History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 1982, ch. 163, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 500, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 314, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 459, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 190, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 217, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 45, § 5, effective June 7, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 46, § 5, effective June 7, 2022.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Section 17-20-1. - Voting by mail ballot.
Section 17-20-1.1. - Declaration of policy.
Section 17-20-2. - Eligibility for mail ballots.
Section 17-20-2.1. - Requirements for validity of mail ballot and mail ballot applications.
Section 17-20-2.2. - Requirements for validity of emergency mail ballots.
Section 17-20-2.3. - Online application for mail ballot.
Section 17-20-3. - Definitions.
Section 17-20-4. - Exemption from registration.
Section 17-20-5. - Residence of person in service or employed outside of the United States.
Section 17-20-6. - Alternative methods of voting.
Section 17-20-7. - Duplication of votes — Methods preferred.
Section 17-20-8. - Application for ballot.
Section 17-20-8.1. - Repealed.
Section 17-20-9.1. - Application by member of the armed forces in active service.
Section 17-20-10.1. - Repealed.
Section 17-20-10.2. - Official state blank ballots.
Section 17-20-11. - Safekeeping of lists of applicants.
Section 17-20-12. - Secretary of state to furnish forms and supplies.
Section 17-20-13. - Form of application.
Section 17-20-13.1. - Form of emergency mail ballot application.
Section 17-20-14.1. - Mail ballots — Local supervision.
Section 17-20-14.2. - Voting from board of canvassers.
Section 17-20-16. - Time of casting vote.
Section 17-20-17. - Omission of presidential electors.
Section 17-20-18. - Instructions on ballot.
Section 17-20-19. - Envelopes for return of ballots.
Section 17-20-20. - Instructions for voting procedure.
Section 17-20-21. - Certifying envelopes.
Section 17-20-22.1. - Mail ballot drop boxes.
Section 17-20-23. - Marking and certification of ballot.
Section 17-20-24. - Irregularities not impairing validity of ballots.
Section 17-20-24.1. - Irregularities in obtaining and casting mail ballots.
Section 17-20-25. - Return of unused ballots.
Section 17-20-26. - Opening and counting of ballots.
Section 17-20-27. - Sealing of ballots and voting list.
Section 17-20-28. - Copies of chapter furnished to local boards.
Section 17-20-29. - Mail applicant not permitted to vote at polls.
Section 17-20-30. - Penalty for violations.
Section 17-20-31. - Investigation of complaints.
Section 17-20-32. - [Repealed.]
Section 17-20-33. - Disqualification of ballot by board of elections.