The bill amends various sections of the General Laws related to local canvassing authorities and voter registration processes. It introduces new requirements for local boards to publish information regarding local questions submitted to voters, including a conspicuous notice on the municipality's website for at least twenty-five consecutive days leading up to the election. The local board may substitute newspaper advertising with a household mailing that contains the same information.

Additionally, the bill establishes new provisions for the publication of early voting dates, hours, and locations, requiring local boards to advertise this information in a newspaper of general circulation at least once prior to the commencement of any in-person early voting period and at least once while the early voting period is underway. It mandates that local boards also publish a prominent notice on the municipality's website throughout the duration of any in-person early voting period.

The bill modifies the voter registration process, allowing local boards to receive registrations throughout the year during their regular business hours. It ensures that local boards remain open on the last day for voter registration and allows for the substitution of advertising in a newspaper by posting a conspicuous notice on the municipality's website for at least ten consecutive days leading up to and including the last day prescribed by law for receiving voter registrations.

The act emphasizes compliance with the most recent, commonly adopted Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which shall be no less than 2.0 compliance level AA, for all published notices. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2282: 17-8-10, 17-9.1-3