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HB 5514

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boylan and 6 co-sponsors

Exempts emergency mail ballots from the 'Mail voters' legend; requires printing/template updates by election officials without changing eligibility or counting rules.

06/10/2025 Signed by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5514

Summary — HB 5514 (AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS — MAIL BALLOTS)

Status: Signed by Governor (06/10/2025). Effective: upon passage.

Purpose

HB 5514 makes a narrow amendment to Rhode Island’s mail-ballot statute to exempt a specific category of mail ballots — emergency mail ballots as referenced in § 17-20-2.2(g) — from a mandatory on-ballot legend that reads “Mail voters.” The bill is limited in scope and focuses on how certain mail ballots are labeled.

Key provisions

  • Amends § 17-20-18 of the General Laws (Chapter 17-20, “Mail Ballots”).
  • Retains the secretary of state’s authority to print brief voting instructions at the head of a mail ballot.
  • Requires mail ballots to “bear the words: ‘Mail voters’” as part of the official endorsement, but adds an explicit exception: that labeling does not apply to ballots cast in conformance with § 17-20-2.2(g) (i.e., emergency mail ballots).
  • Effective immediately upon passage.

Exact language added: mail ballots shall “bear the words: ‘Mail voters’, except for those ballots cast in conformance with § 17-20-2.2(g).”

Who is affected

  • Voters: Specifically, those using emergency mail ballots (as defined by § 17-20-2.2(g)) — their ballots will not carry the “Mail voters” legend.
  • Election officials and the Secretary of State: must update ballot templates, printing instructions, and administrative procedures to implement the exception.
  • Ballot printers and local boards of canvassers: minor operational changes to ensure emergency mail ballots are printed without the legend.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced: February 13, 2025 (filed March 14, 2025).
  • Passed House: April 24, 2025.
  • Passed Senate in concurrence: June 5, 2025 (placed on consent calendar).
  • Transmitted to Governor: June 5, 2025.
  • Signed into law: June 10, 2025 — takes effect upon passage.

Implementation & likely impact

This is a narrowly tailored, administrative change. It requires updating ballot printing practices and guidance from the Secretary of State and local election officials but does not alter voter eligibility, ballot-counting rules, or substantive voting procedures. Fiscal impact is likely minimal (administrative/printing template updates). The change removes a mandatory label from emergency mail ballots only; any operational effects will be limited to how those ballots are formatted and handled.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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