reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 17-20-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-16 - Time of casting vote.

§ 17-20-16. Time of casting vote.Mail ballots may be cast in the manner provided by law on or before election day; provided, that no mail ballot shall be counted unless it is received by the state board not later than the time prescribed by § 17-18-11 for the closing of polling places on election day, except ballots cast under the provisions of § 17-20-6.1, which shall be counted if received by the state board by four o'clock p.m. (4:00) on the third day following a primary or four o'clock p.m. (4:00) on the seventh day following an election.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 2013, ch. 66, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 74, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 201, § 2; P.L. 2019, ch. 268, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-20-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-17 - Omission of presidential electors.

§ 17-20-17. Omission of presidential electors.Every mail ballot previously required by the provisions of law to contain the names of electors for president and vice-president of the United States shall contain the names of all candidates for president and vice-president of the United States preceded by the words "Electors for" in lieu of names of the electors for the officers.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-20-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-18 - Instructions on ballot.

§ 17-20-18. Instructions on ballot.The secretary of state may, if the secretary deems necessary, cause to be printed at the head of the ballot brief instructions for voting and the use of the ballot. The mail ballots shall, in addition to the official endorsement provided by law, bear the words: "Mail voters".History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-20-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-19 - Envelopes for return of ballots.

§ 17-20-19. Envelopes for return of ballots.Envelopes for the enclosure and return of mail ballots and their enclosing certified envelope shall have the printed or written address: "Board of Elections, 2000 Plainfield Pike, Cranston, Rhode Island 02921" or a post office box established and maintained by the board; and shall be forwarded by the secretary of state to each mail voter whose application for the mail ballot has been received and accepted.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 2020, ch. 7, § 3; P.L. 2020, ch. 8, § 3.
RI Gen L § 17-20-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-20 - Instructions for voting procedure.

§ 17-20-20. Instructions for voting procedure.The secretary of state shall also cause to be prepared and printed an adequate number of copies of instructions for voting procedure in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or the secretary may cause the instructions to be printed in an appropriate place on the official mail ballots.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-20-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-21 - Certifying envelopes.

§ 17-20-21. Certifying envelopes.The secretary of state shall cause to be prepared and printed and shall furnish with each mail ballot an envelope for sealing up and certifying the ballot when returned. The envelope shall be printed in substantially the following form:"After marking ballot or ballots, fold and enclose in this envelope and seal it. Certify to statement hereon. Enclose in envelope addressed to board of elections, which must receive the envelope not later than the time prescribed by § 17-18-11 for the closing of polling places on the day of election." Date of Election: _______________________________________ City/Town of: _____________________________________  Certificate of Voter Print Name of Voter I swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that I am: • I am a United States citizen; • I am a resident and qualified voter of the State of Rhode Island; • I am eligible to cast a mail ballot under the provisions of § 17-20-2; and • I am not qualified to vote elsewhere. Voter must sign full name here: _____________________________________  (If unable to sign name because of physical incapacity or otherwise, voter shall make his or her mark "(X)"). I hereby attest under penalty of perjury that the enclosed voted ballot was cast, and the signature or mark on this certifying envelope was made by the voter whose name appears on the label above.  Before me the _________ day of . . . . . . . . . . 20 _________ , at _____________________________________ (city or town), county of _____________________________________ , state of _____________________________________ , personally appeared the above named voter, to me known and known by me to be the person who affixed his or her signature to this ballot envelope.  Notary Public Notary must also print his or her name   Witness:     _____________________________________   _____________________________________________________________________    (Signature)(Print Name)  (Address)     _____________________________________   _____________________________________________________________________    (Signature)(Print Name)  (Address)    Note: Mail ballots must either be sworn to before a notary public or before two (2) witnesses who must sign their names and addresses. History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. § 2; P.L. 1981, ch. 272, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 94, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 161, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 156, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 435, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 436, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 227, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 41; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 41; P.L. 2001, ch. 56, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 121, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 190, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 217, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 66, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 74, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-20-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-22 - Certification envelopes for mail ballots of persons intimately connected with military service and persons employed outside of the United States.

§ 17-20-22. Certification envelopes for mail ballots of persons intimately connected with military service and persons employed outside of the United States.The distinctively colored certification envelope for persons intimately connected with military service and persons employed outside of the United States shall be printed in substantially the following form:After marking ballot or ballots, fold and enclose in this envelope and seal it. Certify to statement hereon. Enclose in envelope addressed to board of elections, which must receive the envelope not later than the time prescribed by § 17-18-11 for the closing of polling places on the day of election. Date of Election _______________________________________ City/Town of _____________________________________ Oath of Elector Casting the Enclosed Ballot or BallotsPrint Name I do hereby affirm, under penalty of perjury that: • I am a United States citizen; • I am a resident and qualified voter of the State of Rhode Island; • I am eligible to cast a mail ballot, because I am one of the following: • A member of the Uniformed Services or merchant marine on active duty or an eligible spouse or dependent.  • A U.S. citizen who will be outside the United States. • I am not qualified to vote elsewhere.(Signature of voter)History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 15; P.L. 1984, ch. 369, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 227, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 56, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 121, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 190, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 217, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 66, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 74, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-20-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-23 - Marking and certification of ballot.

§ 17-20-23. Marking and certification of ballot.(a) A voter may vote for the candidates of the voter's choice by making a mark in the space provided opposite their respective names.(b) In case a voter desires to vote upon a question submitted to the vote of the electors of the state, the voter shall mark in the appropriate space associated with the answer that the voter desires to give.(c) Voters receiving a mail ballot pursuant to § 17-20-2(1), (2), and (4) shall mark the ballot in the presence of two (2) witnesses or some officer authorized by the law of the place where marked to administer oaths. Voters receiving a mail ballot pursuant to § 17-20-2(3) do not need to have their ballot witnessed or notarized. Except as otherwise provided for by this chapter, the voter shall not allow the official or witnesses to see how he or she marks the ballot and the official or witnesses shall hold no communication with the voter, nor the voter with the official or witnesses, as to how the voter is to vote. Thereafter, the voter shall enclose and seal the ballot in the envelope provided for it. The voter shall then execute before the official or witnesses the certification on the envelope. The voter shall then enclose and seal the certified envelope with the ballot in the envelope addressed to the state board and cause the envelope to be delivered to the state board on or before election day.(d) These ballots shall be counted only if received within the time limited by this chapter.(e) There shall be a space provided on the general election ballot to allow the voter to write in the names of persons not in nomination by any party as provided for in §§ 17-19-31 and 17-20-24.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 1991, ch. 143, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 291, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 13; P.L. 2001, ch. 56, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 121, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 190, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 217, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 279, § 4; P.L. 2014, ch. 280, § 4.
RI Gen L § 17-20-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-24 - Irregularities not impairing validity of ballots.

§ 17-20-24. Irregularities not impairing validity of ballots.(a) No ballot transmitted under the provisions of this chapter shall be rejected for any immaterial addition, omission, or irregularity in the preparation or execution of the computer ballot, nor for failure of the voter to affix sufficient postage. No ballot shall be invalid by reason of mistake or omission in writing in the name of any candidate where the candidate intended by the voter is plainly identifiable. Where, because of any defect in marking, a ballot is held invalid as to any particular candidate for office, it shall remain valid as to the candidates for other offices. No ballot shall be invalid by reason of the voter writing upon the inner envelope the name of a community within a town in place of the name of the town. No defect in the marking of the appropriate space associated with casting a vote shall invalidate any ballot or a vote for any candidate, where the intention of the voter is clearly indicated.(b) No ballot shall be rejected if the intention of the voter is clear unless it contains clear evidence of the identity of the voter.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 15; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 13.
RI Gen L § 17-20-24.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-24.1 - Irregularities in obtaining and casting mail ballots.

§ 17-20-24.1. Irregularities in obtaining and casting mail ballots.The requirements set forth by this chapter controlling mail ballot eligibility and the procedure by which mail ballots are obtained and cast shall be strictly applied to assure the integrity of the electoral system. No mail ballot which was not obtained and/or cast in material conformance with the provisions of this title shall be certified by the board of elections. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 34-12-3 to the contrary, any mail ballot application or mail ballot certification notarized by a person who is not in fact a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths and take acknowledgements shall be void. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require the disqualification of a ballot merely because the elector did not sign the elector's full name as it is listed on the voter registration list, but omitted or included a middle initial or name, abbreviated a first and/or middle name, or made a similar omission or inclusion, as long as the board of elections can reasonably determine the identity of the voter.History of Section.P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 16.
RI Gen L § 17-20-25 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-25 - Return of unused ballots.

§ 17-20-25. Return of unused ballots.Every voter who has received a mail ballot and has not cast it shall nevertheless return the unvoted ballot and its uncertified enclosing envelope to the state board or local board with a statement that the voter is not using the mail ballot, before eight o'clock (8:00) p.m. on election day.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 58, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-20-27 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-27 - Sealing of ballots and voting list.

§ 17-20-27. Sealing of ballots and voting list.The state board shall, at the completion of the count of all votes cast at any election, securely store all ballots cast in the election, and after the certification of the results of the elections, the state board shall place all ballots received from mail voters together with the certified envelopes containing the ballots in a steel box or package and shall seal the ballots and envelopes in open meetings of the board by affixing at least four (4) adhesive labels, and the members of the board shall sign the labels by affixing their signatures in ink to each of the labels, and thereafter no steel box or package shall upon any pretense be reopened by any person, except upon order of the general assembly or a court of competent jurisdiction, but shall be held by the board for twenty-two (22) months, when they may then be destroyed. The certified copies of the voting lists of mail voters and the applications referred to in § 17-20-10 shall likewise be safely sealed and kept by the board for the same length of time.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 277, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 298, § 13; P.L. 2015, ch. 78, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 84, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-20-28 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-28 - Copies of chapter furnished to local boards.

§ 17-20-28. Copies of chapter furnished to local boards.On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of September in any year in which a general state or congressional district election is held, the secretary of state shall send to the local boards an attested copy of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-20-29 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-29 - Mail applicant not permitted to vote at polls.

§ 17-20-29. Mail applicant not permitted to vote at polls.(a) No person, or one claiming to be that person, whose name has been marked upon any voting list, provided for official use at any election, with the mark as provided by § 17-20-10, shall be permitted to vote in person at the election; provided, that the person may re-establish his or her right to vote in person by presenting himself or herself at that person's local board on or before election day and surrendering his or her mail ballot. Upon that surrender the person's name shall be restored to the voting list. Any person whose name has been marked on the voting list may also be permitted to vote in person if that person executes and delivers to the local board an affidavit stating that the person did not receive the mail ballot, or that the mail ballot was lost or destroyed.(b) Each local board shall, immediately after the close of the polls, certify and deliver to the state board the names and addresses of all persons restored to the voting list, together with the affidavits and surrendered ballots received pursuant to this section.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2.
RI Gen L § 17-20-30 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-30 - Penalty for violations.

§ 17-20-30. Penalty for violations.(a) Any person who knowingly makes or causes to be made any material false statement in connection with his or her application to vote as a mail voter, or who votes or attempts to vote under the provisions of this chapter, by fraudulently signing the name of another upon any envelope provided for in this chapter, or who, not being a qualified voter and having knowledge or being chargeable with knowledge of the fact, attempts to vote under this chapter, or who votes the ballot of another voter, or who deliberately prevents or causes to prevent the mail ballot to be received by the voter or to be returned to the board of elections, or who falsely notarizes or witnesses the voter signature on the ballot application or mail ballot, or who deceives, coerces, or interferes with the voter casting his or her ballot, and any person who does or attempts to do, or aid in doing or attempting to do, a fraudulent act in connection with any vote cast or to be cast under the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a felony.(b) Any person who, having received a mail voter's ballot and having voted or not voted the mail ballot, votes or fraudulently attempts to vote at any elective meeting within the state held on the day for which the ballot was issued shall be guilty of a felony.(c) Any officer or other person who intentionally opens a mail voter's certified envelope or examines the contents before the envelope is opened by the board of elections, as provided in this chapter, shall be guilty of a felony.(d) The offenses in this section shall be punishable by imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years and/or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5000).History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 1980, ch. 407, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-20-31 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-31 - Investigation of complaints.

§ 17-20-31. Investigation of complaints.The board of elections shall consider all complaints that it receives alleging criminal violations of this chapter and shall refer those complaints which it receives which it deems to be more than frivolous to the state police for investigation.History of Section.P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 19.
RI Gen L § 17-20-32 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-32 - Inquiry by board of elections.

§ 17-20-32. Inquiry by board of elections.Upon the request of any candidate for public office and upon a showing of good cause for it or upon its own motion, the board of elections shall inquire into any notary public or witness who witnesses the voter signatures on more than fifty (50) mail ballot envelopes in any one election and any notary public or witness who the board has reason to believe has not complied with the provisions of this chapter. The inquiry shall attempt to determine whether the notary public or witness was actually present when the documents were signed by the voters and whether all other applicable requirements set forth in this chapter were complied with. Any criminal violation of this chapter uncovered by the board of elections shall be referred to the state police for further investigation.History of Section.P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 19; P.L. 1991, ch. 172, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 207, § 1.
RI Gen L § 17-20-33 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-33 - Disqualification of ballot by board of elections.

§ 17-20-33. Disqualification of ballot by board of elections.The board of elections shall, on its own motion, disqualify any mail ballot which it determines, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, was not voted by the elector who purportedly cast it, or was voted by an elector who was not eligible to vote by mail ballot, or was not obtained and voted in the manner prescribed by this chapter. The board of elections may take this action even in the absence of a challenge to the ballot and may take this action at any time prior to the separation of the ballot from its application and certifying envelope.History of Section.P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 19.
RI Gen L § 17-20-34 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-34 - Liberal construction.

§ 17-20-34. Liberal construction.This chapter shall be construed liberally to effect the purposes of maintaining the integrity and the secrecy of the mail ballot by assuring that only electors eligible to vote by mail ballot are allowed to utilize that method of voting, by assuring that the procedures set forth in this chapter controlling the application and balloting processes are strictly enforced, and by safeguarding the mail ballot voter from harassment, intimidation, and invasion of privacy.History of Section.P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 19.
RI Gen L § 17-20-35 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-20 - Mail Ballots|Section 17-20-35 - Severability.

§ 17-20-35. Severability.If any provision of this chapter, or the application of the provision to any persons or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter and the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by the invalidity.History of Section.P.L. 1983, ch. 172, § 19.
RI Gen L § 17-21-1 - 17-21-43 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-21 - Voting by Armed Forces|Section 17-21-1 - 17-21-43 - Repealed.

§ 17-21-1 — 17-21-43. Repealed.History of Section.P.L. 1944, ch. 1470, §§ 1-31; P.L. 1946, ch. 1776, § 1; P.L. 1955, ch. 3502, § 1; G.L. 1956, §§ 17-21-1 — 17-21-43; P.L. 1958, ch. 18, § 1; P.L. 1962, ch. 201, § 8; P.L. 1963, ch. 73, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 17-21-12; P.L. 1963, ch. 73, § 2; P.L. 1964, ch. 103, § 2; P.L. 1966, ch. 116, §§ 19-21; P.L. 1968, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 1978, ch. 201, § 11; Repealed by P.L. 1963, ch. 73, § 3; P.L. 1978, ch. 258, § 1. For present provisions on mail ballots, see § 17-20-1 et seq; for provisions on registration and voting in federal elections by citizens residing outside the United States, see § 17-21.1-1 et seq.
RI Gen L § 17-21.1-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 17 - Elections|Chapter 17-21.1 - Registration and Voting in Federal Elections by Citizens Residing Outside the United States|Section 17-21.1-1 - Applicability.

§ 17-21.1-1. Applicability.This chapter is enacted pursuant to Public Law 94-203, passed by the congress of the United States and approved on January 2, 1976, and applies to all federal elections to select, nominate, and/or elect candidates for president, vice-president, presidential electors, members of the United States senate, and members of the United States house of representatives.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 258, § 1.