Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 410 - Board of Elections › Chapter 20 - Elections › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 25 - Rules and Regulations Establishing Vote-by-Mail Ballot Drop Boxes › Section 410-RICR-20-00-25.6 - Process for Retrieval and Delivery of Ballots Deposited in Drop Boxes

Current through June 14, 2024
A. The Board of Elections shall designate one
				  (1) or more staff members of the Department of State and of each local board of
				  canvassers as the official agents of the Board of Elections, for purposes of
				  retrieving ballots deposited in Drop Boxes. Each business day prior to the
				  close of business of the Elections Division, Office of the Secretary of State
				  and the local board of canvassers during the twenty (20) day period prior to
				  Election Day, one (1) or more staff members of the Department of State and of
				  each local board of canvassers shall retrieve all ballots deposited within the
				  Drop Box and secure the ballots within the Secure Ballot Transfer Device Office
				  for subsequent delivery to the Board of Elections.
B. At 8:00 P.M. on Election Day, upon the
				  last ballot deposited by any person in line at that time, the designated agent
				  of the Board of Elections shall ensure that no other ballots are deposited in
				  the Drop Box. Each Drop Box must be sealed and locked. The Drop Boxes ballot
				  slot opening must also be covered and locked to prevent voters from attempting
				  to deposit ballots after the close of the polls on Election Day.
C. Ballots shall then be retrieved from the
				  Drop Boxes by the designated agent of the Board of Elections, accompanied by
				  one (1) or more staff members of the local board of canvassers.
D. The Board of Elections agent and a staff
				  member of the local board of canvassers shall then collect all ballots from the
				  Drop Box and place the ballots in a Secure Ballot Transfer Device.
E. The date and time of retrieval, and the
				  number of ballots contained in the Drop Box, shall be noted on a retrieval form
				  provided by the Board of Elections.
F. Upon retrieval of the ballots from the
				  Drop Box, the Board of Elections agent shall also inspect the Drop Box for any
				  evidence of tampering and shall document any such finding on the ballot
				  retrieval form.
G. The completed
				  ballot retrieval form shall be affixed to the outside of the Secure Ballot
				  Transfer Device.
H. The ballots
				  shall be transported to the Board of Elections in the Secure Ballot Transfer
				  Device for processing and tabulation. Only persons designated by the Board,
				  including assigned law enforcement officers, shall be authorized to transport
				  the ballots to the Board. The Board shall record the time and date that the
				  transported ballots were received.
I. When the Secure Ballot Transfer Device is
				  received and opened by the Board, the number of ballots contained therein shall
				  be counted by the Board staff to confirm the information contained on the
				  ballot retrieval form. The Board findings shall be set forth on a ballot
				  receipt form. The Board shall then process and certify the Sealed Certification
				  Envelopes and tabulate the enclosed ballots in the same manner as all other
				  mail and emergency ballots in accordance with the statutory requirements of
				  R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 17-20.