§ 17-20-22.1. Mail ballot drop boxes.
(a) "Drop box� means the locked and secure container established and maintained by the
board of elections, in accordance with this section, that shall serve as a receptacle
for the receipt of mail and emergency ballots cast by voters. Every drop box established
by the board of elections shall be deemed to be the property of the board of elections
and shall be accessible to the public, beginning thirty-five (35) days prior to the
date of statewide or federal elections; and provided, further, that the drop boxes
shall be accessible beginning twenty (20) days prior to all special elections held
under this title, available twenty-four (24) hours per day and seven (7) days per
week throughout this period, if established outside a municipal building, and during
the normal business hours of the facility if established inside a municipal building.
All drop boxes must be accessible on election day, from the time polls open until
the time they close, in accordance with §§ 17-18-10 and 17-18-11. Any ballot that is cast by a voter, as either a mail ballot or emergency ballot,
and is deposited into a drop box on or before the close of polls on election day,
shall be deemed to be received by and in the possession of the board of elections.
At the close of polls on election day, upon the last ballot deposited by any person
in line at that time, a designated agent of the board of elections shall lock the
ballot slot of the drop box to ensure that no other ballots are deposited in the drop
box; provided, further, if there is another election scheduled to be held under this
title in the city or town within thirty-five (35) days after the drop box is locked
pursuant to this section, the drop box shall be reopened, if applicable, the following
day at 8:30 a.m.
(b) Drop boxes must be labeled "State of Rhode Island Official Ballot Drop Box for Mail
Ballots,� and include language about postage and display the official seal of the
board of elections. Drop boxes must be accessible by persons with disabilities. Drop
boxes shall be monitored by a video surveillance system.
(c) No town or city shall have fewer than one drop box. A drop box may be established
inside a municipal building, only if the building remains open and accessible to the
public throughout the prescribed time period prior to election day and until the close
of the polls, in accordance with § 17-18-10. A drop box shall also be placed outside the office of the board of elections and
the election division of the office of the secretary of state. Drop boxes must be
placed in locations that are accessible to persons with disabilities.
(d) Each local board of canvassers shall determine the location of every drop box located
within the geographic area over which that local board has authority, in accordance
with the regulations promulgated by the board of elections.
(e) Each drop box shall not accept the deposit of mail ballots after the last person in
line to deposit a ballot in that drop box at the time the polls close, on the day
of the election, has deposited their ballot.
(f) Each local board shall make the location of every drop box within the area over which
it has authority publicly available on its website, to the extent feasible. The board
of elections shall make the location of all drop boxes located within the state publicly
available at its office and on its website.
(g) The board of elections shall designate one or more staff members of each local board
of canvassers as the official agents of the board of elections, for purposes of retrieving
ballots deposited in drop boxes and establish a schedule and process by which drop
boxes are regularly emptied and any ballots they contain are securely and promptly
transported to the board of elections.
(h) The board of elections shall promulgate regulations consistent with this section,
including regulations for the location of drop boxes and the receipt, storage, security,
regular collection, and transportation of the mail ballots returned.
(i) The board of elections may promulgate regulations for the use of drop boxes for depositing
mail ballot applications during the applicable timeframe for accepting mail ballot
applications.