§ 17-9.1-9. Registration by mail.
(a) Every person who is or may be by the next general election qualified to vote may register to vote by mail. Mail registration shall be accomplished through the use of the federal mail registration form prescribed by the federal election commission under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 42 USC 1973gg, and/or through the use of a mail registration form prescribed by the state board of elections which complies with the requirements contained in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The form shall contain the registrant’s name, residence address, mailing address if different from residence address, date of birth, and registrant’s signature and date of affixation of signature, and may include any other information, certifications, and declarations, including those made under the penalty of perjury, that may be required by the state board in order to administer a single and unified system of voter registration in accordance with applicable state and federal laws which shall enable duly registered voters to vote in all elections in their respective voting districts, including elections for federal officers.
(b) Any person who has fully and correctly completed an application to register to vote by mail which is delivered by the postal service to the State Board of Elections or any local board shall be presumed to be registered as of the date it is postmarked by the postal service, subject to verification of the registration by the state board of any local board as provided in § 17-9.1-25. In those cases where the mail registration form is received not later than five (5) days after the last date to register to vote for an election and the postmark is either missing or unclear, the voter shall be presumed to have registered on or prior to the last day to register for an election, subject to verification of the registration by the state board or any local board as provided in § 17-9.1-25.
(c) The state board of elections shall have authority to adopt regulations to implement and administer mail registrations.
History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4; P.L. 1996, ch. 235, § 2.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 17-9.1 - Registration of Voters
Section 17-9.1-1. - Registration required to vote.
Section 17-9.1-2. - Duty of state board — Registration equipment — Forms.
Section 17-9.1-2.1. - Duplicate voter registration information.
Section 17-9.1-3. - Periods when boards receive registrations.
Section 17-9.1-4.1. - Registration drives at high schools.
Section 17-9.1-4.2. - Repealed.
Section 17-9.1-5. - Local registration agents.
Section 17-9.1-5.1. - Statewide registration agents.
Section 17-9.1-5.2. - Qualifications and jurisdiction of registration agents.
Section 17-9.1-6. - Form of registration cards — Confidentiality of place of registration.
Section 17-9.1-7. - Registration at the division of motor vehicles — Additional agencies.
Section 17-9.1-8. - Registration at designated agencies.
Section 17-9.1-9. - Registration by mail.
Section 17-9.1-9.1. - Shut-in voters, serviceperson’s dependents, or peace corps registrations.
Section 17-9.1-10. - Additional method of registering.
Section 17-9.1-11. - Certification of citizenship.
Section 17-9.1-12. - False certificates in registration.
Section 17-9.1-13. - Filing of registration cards — Transmittal to secretary of state.
Section 17-9.1-14. - Custody of registration cards.
Section 17-9.1-15. - Registration records public.
Section 17-9.1-16. - Procedure on change of address — Fail-safe voting provisions.
Section 17-9.1-17. - Reregistration — Notice to city or town of previous address.
Section 17-9.1-17.1. - Registration — Notice to jurisdiction of previous out-of-state address.
Section 17-9.1-18. - Change of name.
Section 17-9.1-19. - Single registration.
Section 17-9.1-20. - False affidavits.
Section 17-9.1-21. - Registration lists furnished to political parties.
Section 17-9.1-22. - Tampering with registration records.
Section 17-9.1-23. - Party designation.
Section 17-9.1-24. - Change of designation.
Section 17-9.1-26. - Confirmation process — Verification of the address of registered voter.
Section 17-9.1-27. - Periodic updating of voter registration records.
Section 17-9.1-28. - Procedure on challenge of registration.
Section 17-9.1-29. - Penalty for unsubstantiated challenge.
Section 17-9.1-30. - Appeal of ruling by board of canvassers.
Section 17-9.1-31. - Voter registration advisory board.
Section 17-9.1-32. - Private voter registration — State departments and agencies.