The bill amends Section 17-20-9 of the General Laws regarding mail ballots, specifically focusing on the application process for permanently disabled or incapacitated voters and nursing home residents. It introduces a new application process that allows eligible voters to request that a mail ballot application be sent automatically for every election. The previous requirement for voters to sign an affidavit has been replaced with a simpler application process. Additionally, the bill clarifies that if a voter is no longer an eligible voter, the local board of canvassers must be notified, and the voter's name will be removed from the mailing list.

The bill also specifies that the application and instructions must be forwardable. It defines nursing home residents as those in facilities licensed by the department of health, excluding those temporarily residing for rehabilitation. The act is set to take effect upon passage, aiming to modernize and streamline the mail ballot application process for voters with disabilities.

Statutes affected:
5709: 17-20-9