Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 410 - Board of Elections
Chapter 20 - Elections
Subchapter 00 - N/A
Part 13 - Provisional Voting (410-RICR-20-00-13)
Section 410-RICR-20-00-13.6 - Provisional Ballot Application and Instructions

Universal Citation: 410 RI Code of Rules 20 00 13.6

Current through March 20, 2024

13.6.1 Provisional Ballot Application

A. The "Provisional Ballot Application" shall include the following:
1. Section I:
a. Board of canvassers disposition area, where the board of canvassers indicates the disposition of the provisional ballot.

b. A location for an election official to include the name of the city/town and precinct number where the ballot is being cast; and

2. Section 2
a. Provisional Ballot Voter Registration Form

b. Ballot ID number

c. Voter Attestation clause, where the provisional voter shall attest that he/she is a registered voter in the city/town & precinct and is eligible to vote in the election and acknowledges that inserting a provisional ballot into the voting machine will result in its disqualification;

d. A location for the voter to sign;

e. A location for the date of the election;

f. A location for an election official to cite the reason an individual has been given a provisional ballot; and sign and attest to the provisional voter's signature.

g. Primary election only section, where the clerk MUST indicate which political party ballot was requested by the provisional voter.

h. A secondary location for the local board to indicate the disposition of the provisional ballot.

3. Section 3 "Provisional Ballot Receipt" ("Tear-Off Receipt") shall include:
a. the ballot identification number; and

b. instructions on how the individual may determine whether his/her vote was counted and to advise the provisional voter to contact his/her local board of canvassers on/or before the close of business the next business day to provide information to help qualify the provisional ballot.

4. The Board of Elections may include any additional items on the "Provisional Ballot Application" consistent with state or federal laws.

B. Instructions For Casting A Provisional Ballot
1. An individual who casts a provisional ballot shall receive from a election official the "Notice - Provisional Voting Information", and a provisional ballot application.

2. Each provisional voter shall complete and submit the voter portion of the "Provisional Ballot Application" to an election official.

3. The election official upon completing section "2" shall provide the individual a ballot labeled "Provisional", a ballot secrecy sleeve and a provisional ballot envelope that has printed instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot. The election official shall then direct the individual to a privacy booth.

4. The individual shall "vote" his/her provisional ballot by using the marking device provided, connecting the head and tail of the arrow on the computer ballot next to the party, candidate, write-in candidate or ballot question, as is applicable, for whom the voter wishes to cast his/her ballot (Note: A provisional ballot that is incorrectly marked by the voter shall be returned to the election official. The ballot will be marked void by the election official and deposited in the receptacle for void ballots. The individual will then be issued a new ballot labeled 'Provisional'.)

5. Upon completing the ballot the individual shall place the ballot in the "Provisional Ballot Envelope" and seal the envelope containing the voted ballot. The individual will then return the "Provisional Ballot Application" that includes the sealed provisional ballot envelope and affixed application to the election official who shall confirm that the city/town and precinct number is entered onto the provisional ballot application and remove Section 5 (the provisional ballot receipt) and present it to the voter, who shall retain the "Provisional Ballot Receipt" as well as the "Notice - Provisional Voting Information." The election official shall place the "Provisional Ballot Envelope" into the receptacle for provisional ballots.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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