Bill > H5874

This bill aims to facilitate voting for incarcerated individuals who are eligible to vote in Rhode Island by creating several key provisions. It introduces a new legal definition of a "specially qualified voter" as an otherwise eligible voter who is confined in a correctional facility or jail, except for those incarcerated due to a felony conviction. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to create a new "voting coordinator" position responsible for managing all aspects of the voting process for incarcerated individuals, including voter education, registration, ballot acquisition, and ballot submission. The voting coordinator must develop an annual implementation plan detailing how the department will support voting rights, such as identifying staff responsible for voter information and establishing procedures for voter registration and ballot access. Additionally, the bill allows specially qualified voters to request mail ballots with a specific checkbox indicating their incarceration status and provides a mechanism for incarcerated individuals to file complaints with the Secretary of State if they are denied access to voting. The legislation also mandates that voting information be visibly posted in correctional facilities and empowers the Secretary of State to create rules and regulations to enforce and protect voting rights for incarcerated individuals. The bill will take effect immediately upon its passage.

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