Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7494: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS (Requires the board of elections to establish a secure area for the public observation of mail ballot processing and require the mail ballot voter’s signature be compared to the signature on file within the state central voter registration system.)
Status: Signed into law, June 23, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:
2026 -- H 7494 ======== LC004580 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Dawson, Kennedy, J. Brien, Kazarian, Casimiro, and Solomon Date Introduced: February 04, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections (Board of Elections) It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Sections 17-20-13, 17-20-13.1 and 17-20-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows: 17-20-13. Form of application. The application to be subscribed by the voters before receiving a mail ballot shall, in addition to those directions that may be printed, stamped, or written on it by authority of the secretary of state, be in substantially the following form: STATE OF RHODE ISLAND APPLICATION OF VOTER FOR BALLOT FOR ELECTION ON_________________________________________ (COMPLETE HIGHLIGHTED SECTIONS) NOTE -- THIS APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS OF YOUR CITY OR TOWN NOT LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. ON BOX A (PRINT OR TYPE) NAME_________________________________________ VOTING ADDRESS_________________________________________ CITY/TOWN_______________________________________ STATE RI ZIP CODE_________________________________________ DATE OF BIRTH_______________________________________ PHONE #_________________________________________ RHODE ISLAND DRIVER'S LICENSE/STATE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OR THE LAST FOUR (4) DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER___________________________________ BOX B (PRINT OR TYPE) NAME OF INSTITUTION (IF APPLICABLE)_________________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________________ CITY/TOWN_______________________________________ STATE___________ ZIP CODE_________________________________________ FACSIMILE NUMBER (if …
Sponsors
- Evan Shanley (D) · primary sponsor
- Matthew Dawson (D, HD-065)
- Brian Kennedy (D, HD-038)
- Jon Brien (I)
- Katherine Kazarian (D, HD-063)
- Julie Casimiro (D, HD-031)
- Joseph Solomon (D)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed in concurrence
- : Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
Votes
- House Seq #241: PASSAGE (June 3, 2026): 69 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage (May 28, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: ELECTIONS
Common questions
- What is H7494?
- H7494 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS (Requires the board of elections to establish a secure area for the public observation of mail ballot processing and require the mail ballot voter’s signature be compared to the signature on file within the state central voter registration system.).
- What is the status of H7494?
- Signed into law as of June 23, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7494?
- Evan Shanley (D), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7494?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7494.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.