The bill proposes amendments to Chapter 17-20 of the General Laws, titled "Mail Ballots," to update the requirements for mail ballot applications and the validity of mail ballots. It broadens the terms for voters who cannot sign their names due to physical incapacity to include those with blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, allowing an assistant to indicate the voter's inability to sign and provide their details under the penalties of perjury. The bill also adjusts the deadline for mail ballot applications to be considered timely if postmarked by the twenty-first day and received no later than eighteen days before an election. It redefines "signature" to include a voter's mark or a signature by an assistant, clarifies definitions related to employment and military services, and changes the term "emergency" voting to "early" voting.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that voters can apply for mail ballots electronically and outlines the certification process for applications and the issuance of ballots. It requires the secretary of state to issue and mail ballots, provide lists of persons to whom mail ballots have been issued, and correct undeliverable ballots. The bill prescribes the form of the application for receiving a mail ballot, including the state abbreviation "RI" for Rhode Island. It also introduces a new section, 17-20-21, detailing the procedure for sealing and certifying returned mail ballots, and eliminates the requirement for voters who cannot sign to make an "X" mark, replacing it with provisions for indicating inability to sign and including the assistant's details. The bill would take effect upon passage and sets a timeframe for local boards to accept mail ballot applications via postal service.