Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-20-8 (2026)

Application for ballot

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) 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.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter as to time and manner thereof, it shall be the duty of the applicant to cause the mail ballot application or the emergency mail ballot application, as the case may be, to be processed by the local board so that the applicant may receive the ballot, cast it, and cause delivery thereof to be made to the state board not later than eight o’clock (8:00) p.m. on the date of election.

(c) The local board shall maintain a separate list of names and addresses of all applicants and a copy of the list shall be made available for inspection to any person upon request.

(d) 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.

(e) Voters shall be able to apply for a mail ballot electronically through the voter registration portal established by § 17-20-2.3.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1977–1991 · leading case: Griffin v. Burns, 431 F. Supp. 1361 (D.R.I. 1977).

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Griffin v. Burns, 431 F. Supp. 1361 (D.R.I. 1977). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 17-20-8, 9 (1976 Supp.) Each testified, and the Court so finds, that they would have secured assistance to enable them to vote at the polls in person if they had *1364 known that their shut-in ballots would not have been counted.”

Felice v. Rhode Island Bd. of Elections, 781 F. Supp. 100 (D.R.I. 1991). · cites it 2× “Objections to the Secretary of State’s decisions must be filed within twenty-four hours, and the State Board of Elections is required to hold hearings and rule on the objections during the ensuing nine days so that ballots may be printed by the beginning of the absentee ballot…”

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