The bill amends Chapter 17-20 of the General Laws related to mail-in voting in Rhode Island, updating eligibility criteria and procedures for voting by mail ballot. It specifies that electors unable to vote in person due to certain reasons have the right to vote by mail, emphasizing the importance of ballot secrecy and preventing misuse by ineligible voters. The bill revises the validity requirements for mail ballots and applications, removing the online application option and changing the witnessing requirements. Mail ballots must not be forwarded, and if the addressee has moved, they must be returned to the board of elections. The bill also addresses emergency mail ballots, penalties for false applications or certifications, and ensures that a change in the voter's circumstances after applying does not disqualify the application if the voter remains eligible.

The bill introduces new sections and modifies existing ones, including the form of the emergency mail ballot application and the process for permanently disabled or incapacitated voters to request an absentee ballot application. It removes the provision for electronic applications through the voter registration portal and deletes references to nursing homes in relation to mail ballot applications. The bill also outlines the certification process for applications, the issuance of ballots, and the marking of lists, and introduces a new section specifying the form of the application for a mail ballot. It removes several subsections related to electronic processing and provisions set to expire on December 31, 2025. The bill also repeals sections that allowed for online applications for mail ballots, eliminating the provision for voters to apply for a mail ballot online, and removes requirements related to the use of drop boxes for ballot receipt. The act would take effect upon passage.