Amends the procedures for the marking and certification of mail ballots by prohibiting anyone but the voter or certain persons close to the voter from handling the mail ballot.

Rhode Island Mail Ballot Handling Bill

This bill changes the rules around who is allowed to handle a voter's mail ballot in Rhode Island. Under the new rules, only the voter themselves — or certain people who are close to them, such as a family member or someone they trust personally — would be permitted to touch or handle the mail ballot. The goal is to limit outside involvement in the process of marking and submitting a voter's mail ballot.

The bill is aimed at preventing a practice sometimes called "ballot harvesting," where third parties — such as political campaign workers, volunteers, or community organizations — collect or handle completed mail ballots on behalf of voters. Under this proposal, those individuals would no longer be allowed to handle another person's mail ballot, even if the voter gives permission.

This change would affect anyone who votes by mail in Rhode Island, as well as any individuals or groups who currently assist voters with their mail ballots. Voters who have disabilities, limited English proficiency, or other challenges that make it difficult to return their own ballots could be most impacted, since they may rely on outside help. The bill does carve out an exception for people who are personally close to the voter, though the specific definition of who qualifies would be determined by the bill's exact language.

The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing. It has not yet been passed into law.