Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 410 - Board of Elections
Chapter 20 - Elections
Subchapter 00 - N/A
Part 16 - Tabulation of Mail Ballots
Section 410-RICR-20-00-16.4 - Procedures

1. After processing and certification of the mail ballots as required under Board rules on Certification of Mail Ballots, they shall be separated in packages in accordance with their respective cities and towns, in publicly noticed sessions. In each instance the Board or the Designated Election Official(s) shall open the enclosing envelope, and without looking at the votes cast on the enclosed ballot, shall remove the ballot from the envelope. The ballots then shall be stored in secured containers until processing through the automated ballot tabulator. Not more than twenty (20) days prior to Election Day, the mail ballots will be processed by the Designated Election Official using the automated ballot tabulator.

2. Pursuant to § 16.5 of this Part, ballots that are torn or otherwise damaged upon opening of the envelopes in addition to ballots that are unable to be processed by the automated ballot tabulator (i.e. improperly marked ballots, damaged ballots, blank ballots) that have been out-stacked by the automated ballot tabulator will be given to the Board or the Designated Election Official(s) to determine voter intent, and duplication of the original ballot. Duplicated ballots will be kept together in a secured container until the duplication process is completed, upon which time the duplicate ballots shall be processed by the automated ballot tabulator.

3. Ballots containing write-in votes will be digitally imaged by the automated ballot tabulator pursuant to § 16.6 of this Part.

4. Upon completion of the processing of the mail ballots, said mail ballots shall be placed in the proper storage container. The storage containers will be sealed and stored at the Board of Elections for a period of twenty-two (22) months.

5. Mail ballots shall be totaled no earlier than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.