Bill Sponsors
O'Brien, Shanley, Solomon, Dawson, Biah, McEntee,
Committee
House State Government & Elections
Summary
Select
This legislation updates Rhode Island's election laws to modernize how military members, citizens living overseas, and voters with disabilities cast their ballots. It allows these specific groups to receive and return their mail ballots electronically through a secure system approved by the Secretary of State. The system must meet strict federal cybersecurity standards (NIST guidelines) to ensure safety. This replaces older methods like faxing with more secure digital options, ensuring that individuals who cannot physically get to a polling place due to distance or disability can still participate in elections effectively.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Significantly expands voting access and enfranchisement for the disability community by removing physical barriers to casting a ballot.
- Protects the voting rights of citizens serving overseas or in the military, ensuring they are not disenfranchised by slow mail services.
- Modernizes election infrastructure with updated cybersecurity standards, ensuring a more reliable and accessible democratic process for marginalized groups.
Cons for Progressives
- Electronic return of ballots raises concerns about the secrecy of the ballot and potential privacy violations compared to physical paper ballots.
- Reliance on third-party technology vendors to manage the electronic transmission system could lead to the privatization of critical election infrastructure.
- While intended for specific groups, the shift toward internet-based voting could distract from the need to make physical polling places fully accessible and robust.
Pros for Conservatives
- Strongly supports active-duty military personnel and their families stationed abroad by ensuring their votes are counted efficiently.
- Mandates strict adherence to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity guidelines, ensuring a higher standard of security than previous fax methods.
- Maintains specific eligibility requirements (military, overseas, disabled) rather than implementing universal mail-in or internet voting for the general population.
Cons for Conservatives
- Connecting voting systems to the internet for ballot return is viewed by many as inherently insecure and vulnerable to hacking or manipulation by bad actors.
- Eliminates the physical chain of custody for the ballot during transmission, potentially making audits and verification of voter intent more difficult.
- Sets a precedent for electronic voting that could eventually be expanded to the general population, undermining traditional in-person voting security.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Active Duty Military
- Overseas Citizens
- Voters with Disabilities
- Secretary of State
- Local Boards of Canvassers
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/07/2026 Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
• 01/09/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (01/15/2026)
• 01/15/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 01/23/2026 Scheduled for consideration (01/27/2026)
• 01/27/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 01/30/2026 Placed on House Calendar (02/05/2026)
• 02/05/2026 House passed as amended (floor amendment)
• 02/06/2026 Referred to Senate Judiciary
• 02/20/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
• 02/23/2026 Meeting postponed (02/24/2026)
• 02/23/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/26/2026)
• 02/26/2026 Committee recommends passage as amended in concurrence
• 03/20/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (03/26/2026)
• 03/26/2026 Senate passed as amended in concurrence
• 03/26/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 03/31/2026 Signed by Governor
• 01/09/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (01/15/2026)
• 01/15/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 01/23/2026 Scheduled for consideration (01/27/2026)
• 01/27/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 01/30/2026 Placed on House Calendar (02/05/2026)
• 02/05/2026 House passed as amended (floor amendment)
• 02/06/2026 Referred to Senate Judiciary
• 02/20/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
• 02/23/2026 Meeting postponed (02/24/2026)
• 02/23/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/26/2026)
• 02/26/2026 Committee recommends passage as amended in concurrence
• 03/20/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (03/26/2026)
• 03/26/2026 Senate passed as amended in concurrence
• 03/26/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 03/31/2026 Signed by Governor
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Sections 17-20-6.1 and 17-20-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows:
17-20-6.1. Alternative methods of voting by citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and other citizens residing outside the United States. [Effective December 31, 2025.] (a) It is the intent and purpose that the provisions set forth in this section are designed to facilitate the federal mandate of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), 52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.
(b) The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) may be used as a request for an absentee ballot by:
(1) A member of the armed forces who is absent from the state by reason of being in active service;
(2) Any person absent from the state in performance of “services intimately connected with military operations” as defined in § 17-20-3(d);
(3) Any person who is employed outside of the United States as defined in § 17-20-3(c); and
(4) Any person who does not qualify under subparagraph (1), (2), or (3) above, but who is a citizen of the United States and absent from the state and residing outside the United States as described in chapter 21.1 of this title.
(c) The single FPCA card shall permit the person to request an absentee ballot for each primary and election through the next general election for federal office or for the time period specified by federal law in which the voter is eligible to vote.
(d) The FPCA card must be received by the local board of canvassers where the person last maintains his or her residence for voting purposes within the time frame for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title.
(e) If the FPCA, when used in accordance with this section, is sent by the voter through electronic transmission, it must be sent to the secretary of state and it must be received by the secretary of state by the deadline for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title. The secretary of state shall then forward the FPCA to the appropriate local authority who shall immediately certify and return the FPCA to the secretary of state with the notation that the corresponding ballots shall be sent by mail and electronic transmission.The secretary of state shall transmit ballots only to the facsimile number provided by the Federal Voter Assistance Program.
The secretary of state shall approve electronically transmitted ballots to and from eligible voters only through a service or solution that meets the following requirements:
(1) The system has had one or more independent security reviews;
(2) Demonstrates the system meets the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework guidelines or federal cybersecurity framework guidelines of a successor designated federal agency or organization; and
(3) Approved by the secretary of state.
The ballots sent by electronic transmission shall be returned to the state board by electronic transmission. These ballots will be counted at the state board in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state board.
(f) The voter’s signature on the FPCA does not need to be witnessed or notarized, when the FPCA is submitted as provided in this section.
(g) If a voter is casting a mail ballot received through the use of the FPCA card as provided in this section, the voter’s signature does not need to be witnessed or notarized on the certifying envelope used for the return of the voted mail ballot.
17-20-9. Application to be placed on the permanent mail ballot application list.
(a) A voter, by signing an application, may request that a mail ballot application be sent to the voter automatically for every election. The application and instructions shall be prescribed by the secretary of state, and furnished upon request to any elector by each local board of canvassers. The envelope containing the mail ballot application shall be clearly marked as not forwardable. If any elector is no longer an eligible voter the elector shall notify the local board of canvassers of LC003125 - Page 2 of 4 this fact. The local board shall remove the name of any voter from the mailing list established under this section upon receipt of reliable information that a voter no longer qualifies for the service. The voter shall be notified of the action within five (5) days after the board takes the action.
(b) The application and instructions prescribed in this section shall be mailed to the applicant along with a stamped return envelope addressed to the local boards of canvassers. The secretary of state may process applications pursuant to this section through the online mail ballot application portal established by § 17-20-2.3.
(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2025, ch. 231, § 1 and P.L. 2025, ch. 232, § 1.] (d) The secretary of state shall maintain a list in the central voter registration system of all voters who automatically receive applications for mail ballots, pursuant to this section.
(e) [Expires December 31, 2025.] Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(f) [Expires December 31, 2025.] For purposes of this section, “eligible disabled voter” means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
(g) Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(h) For purposes of this section, "eligible disabled voter" means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
17-20-6.1. Alternative methods of voting by citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and other citizens residing outside the United States. [Effective December 31, 2025.] (a) It is the intent and purpose that the provisions set forth in this section are designed to facilitate the federal mandate of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), 52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.
(b) The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) may be used as a request for an absentee ballot by:
(1) A member of the armed forces who is absent from the state by reason of being in active service;
(2) Any person absent from the state in performance of “services intimately connected with military operations” as defined in § 17-20-3(d);
(3) Any person who is employed outside of the United States as defined in § 17-20-3(c); and
(4) Any person who does not qualify under subparagraph (1), (2), or (3) above, but who is a citizen of the United States and absent from the state and residing outside the United States as described in chapter 21.1 of this title.
(c) The single FPCA card shall permit the person to request an absentee ballot for each primary and election through the next general election for federal office or for the time period specified by federal law in which the voter is eligible to vote.
(d) The FPCA card must be received by the local board of canvassers where the person last maintains his or her residence for voting purposes within the time frame for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title.
(e) If the FPCA, when used in accordance with this section, is sent by the voter through electronic transmission, it must be sent to the secretary of state and it must be received by the secretary of state by the deadline for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title. The secretary of state shall then forward the FPCA to the appropriate local authority who shall immediately certify and return the FPCA to the secretary of state with the notation that the corresponding ballots shall be sent by mail and electronic transmission.
The secretary of state shall approve electronically transmitted ballots to and from eligible voters only through a service or solution that meets the following requirements:
(1) The system has had one or more independent security reviews;
(2) Demonstrates the system meets the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework guidelines or federal cybersecurity framework guidelines of a successor designated federal agency or organization; and
(3) Approved by the secretary of state.
The ballots sent by electronic transmission shall be returned to the state board by electronic transmission. These ballots will be counted at the state board in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state board.
(f) The voter’s signature on the FPCA does not need to be witnessed or notarized, when the FPCA is submitted as provided in this section.
(g) If a voter is casting a mail ballot received through the use of the FPCA card as provided in this section, the voter’s signature does not need to be witnessed or notarized on the certifying envelope used for the return of the voted mail ballot.
17-20-9. Application to be placed on the permanent mail ballot application list.
(a) A voter, by signing an application, may request that a mail ballot application be sent to the voter automatically for every election. The application and instructions shall be prescribed by the secretary of state, and furnished upon request to any elector by each local board of canvassers. The envelope containing the mail ballot application shall be clearly marked as not forwardable. If any elector is no longer an eligible voter the elector shall notify the local board of canvassers of LC003125 - Page 2 of 4 this fact. The local board shall remove the name of any voter from the mailing list established under this section upon receipt of reliable information that a voter no longer qualifies for the service. The voter shall be notified of the action within five (5) days after the board takes the action.
(b) The application and instructions prescribed in this section shall be mailed to the applicant along with a stamped return envelope addressed to the local boards of canvassers. The secretary of state may process applications pursuant to this section through the online mail ballot application portal established by § 17-20-2.3.
(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2025, ch. 231, § 1 and P.L. 2025, ch. 232, § 1.] (d) The secretary of state shall maintain a list in the central voter registration system of all voters who automatically receive applications for mail ballots, pursuant to this section.
(e) [Expires December 31, 2025.] Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(f) [Expires December 31, 2025.] For purposes of this section, “eligible disabled voter” means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
(g) Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(h) For purposes of this section, "eligible disabled voter" means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
SECTION 1. Sections 17-20-6.1 and 17-20-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-20 entitled "Mail Ballots" are hereby amended to read as follows:
17-20-6.1. Alternative methods of voting by citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and other citizens residing outside the United States. [Effective December 31, 2025.] (a) It is the intent and purpose that the provisions set forth in this section are designed to facilitate the federal mandate of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), 52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.
(b) The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) may be used as a request for an absentee ballot by:
(1) A member of the armed forces who is absent from the state by reason of being in active service;
(2) Any person absent from the state in performance of “services intimately connected with military operations” as defined in § 17-20-3(d);
(3) Any person who is employed outside of the United States as defined in § 17-20-3(c); and
(4) Any person who does not qualify under subparagraph (1), (2), or (3) above, but who is a citizen of the United States and absent from the state and residing outside the United States as described in chapter 21.1 of this title.
(c) The single FPCA card shall permit the person to request an absentee ballot for each primary and election through the next general election for federal office or for the time period specified by federal law in which the voter is eligible to vote.
(d) The FPCA card must be received by the local board of canvassers where the person last maintains his or her residence for voting purposes within the time frame for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title.
(e) If the FPCA, when used in accordance with this section, is sent by the voter through electronic transmission, it must be sent to the secretary of state and it must be received by the secretary of state by the deadline for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title. The secretary of state shall then forward the FPCA to the appropriate local authority who shall immediately certify and return the FPCA to the secretary of state with the notation that the corresponding ballots shall be sent by mail and electronic transmission.The secretary of state shall transmit ballots only to the facsimile number provided by the Federal Voter Assistance Program.
The secretary of state shall approve electronically transmitted ballots to and from eligible voters only through a service or solution that meets the following requirements:
(1) The system has had one or more independent security reviews;
(2) Demonstrates the system meets the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework guidelines or federal cybersecurity framework guidelines of a successor designated federal agency or organization; and
(3) Approved by the secretary of state.
The ballots sent by electronic transmission shall be returned to the state board by electronic transmission. These ballots will be counted at the state board in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state board.
(f) The voter’s signature on the FPCA does not need to be witnessed or notarized, when the FPCA is submitted as provided in this section.
(g) If a voter is casting a mail ballot received through the use of the FPCA card as provided in this section, the voter’s signature does not need to be witnessed or notarized on the certifying envelope used for the return of the voted mail ballot.
17-20-9. Application to be placed on the permanent mail ballot application list.
(a) A voter, by signing an application, may request that a mail ballot application be sent to the voter automatically for every election. The application and instructions shall be prescribed by the secretary of state, and furnished upon request to any elector by each local board of canvassers. The envelope containing the mail ballot application shall be clearly marked as not forwardable. If any elector is no longer an eligible voter the elector shall notify the local board of canvassers of LC003125 - Page 2 of 4 this fact. The local board shall remove the name of any voter from the mailing list established under this section upon receipt of reliable information that a voter no longer qualifies for the service. The voter shall be notified of the action within five (5) days after the board takes the action.
(b) The application and instructions prescribed in this section shall be mailed to the applicant along with a stamped return envelope addressed to the local boards of canvassers. The secretary of state may process applications pursuant to this section through the online mail ballot application portal established by § 17-20-2.3.
(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2025, ch. 231, § 1 and P.L. 2025, ch. 232, § 1.] (d) The secretary of state shall maintain a list in the central voter registration system of all voters who automatically receive applications for mail ballots, pursuant to this section.
(e) [Expires December 31, 2025.] Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(f) [Expires December 31, 2025.] For purposes of this section, “eligible disabled voter” means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
(g) Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(h) For purposes of this section, "eligible disabled voter" means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who certifies, subject to the provisions of §§ 17-20-8(d) and 17-26-1, that they are incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
17-20-6.1. Alternative methods of voting by citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and other citizens residing outside the United States. [Effective December 31, 2025.] (a) It is the intent and purpose that the provisions set forth in this section are designed to facilitate the federal mandate of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), 52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.
(b) The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) may be used as a request for an absentee ballot by:
(1) A member of the armed forces who is absent from the state by reason of being in active service;
(2) Any person absent from the state in performance of “services intimately connected with military operations” as defined in § 17-20-3(d);
(3) Any person who is employed outside of the United States as defined in § 17-20-3(c); and
(4) Any person who does not qualify under subparagraph (1), (2), or (3) above, but who is a citizen of the United States and absent from the state and residing outside the United States as described in chapter 21.1 of this title.
(c) The single FPCA card shall permit the person to request an absentee ballot for each primary and election through the next general election for federal office or for the time period specified by federal law in which the voter is eligible to vote.
(d) The FPCA card must be received by the local board of canvassers where the person last maintains his or her residence for voting purposes within the time frame for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title.
(e) If the FPCA, when used in accordance with this section, is sent by the voter through electronic transmission, it must be sent to the secretary of state and it must be received by the secretary of state by the deadline for applying for absentee ballots as set forth in this title. The secretary of state shall then forward the FPCA to the appropriate local authority who shall immediately certify and return the FPCA to the secretary of state with the notation that the corresponding ballots shall be sent by mail and electronic transmission.
The secretary of state shall approve electronically transmitted ballots to and from eligible voters only through a service or solution that meets the following requirements:
(1) The system has had one or more independent security reviews;
(2) Demonstrates the system meets the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework guidelines or federal cybersecurity framework guidelines of a successor designated federal agency or organization; and
(3) Approved by the secretary of state.
The ballots sent by electronic transmission shall be returned to the state board by electronic transmission. These ballots will be counted at the state board in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state board.
(f) The voter’s signature on the FPCA does not need to be witnessed or notarized, when the FPCA is submitted as provided in this section.
(g) If a voter is casting a mail ballot received through the use of the FPCA card as provided in this section, the voter’s signature does not need to be witnessed or notarized on the certifying envelope used for the return of the voted mail ballot.
17-20-9. Application to be placed on the permanent mail ballot application list.
(a) A voter, by signing an application, may request that a mail ballot application be sent to the voter automatically for every election. The application and instructions shall be prescribed by the secretary of state, and furnished upon request to any elector by each local board of canvassers. The envelope containing the mail ballot application shall be clearly marked as not forwardable. If any elector is no longer an eligible voter the elector shall notify the local board of canvassers of LC003125 - Page 2 of 4 this fact. The local board shall remove the name of any voter from the mailing list established under this section upon receipt of reliable information that a voter no longer qualifies for the service. The voter shall be notified of the action within five (5) days after the board takes the action.
(b) The application and instructions prescribed in this section shall be mailed to the applicant along with a stamped return envelope addressed to the local boards of canvassers. The secretary of state may process applications pursuant to this section through the online mail ballot application portal established by § 17-20-2.3.
(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2025, ch. 231, § 1 and P.L. 2025, ch. 232, § 1.] (d) The secretary of state shall maintain a list in the central voter registration system of all voters who automatically receive applications for mail ballots, pursuant to this section.
(e) [Expires December 31, 2025.] Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(f) [Expires December 31, 2025.] For purposes of this section, “eligible disabled voter” means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who is incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
(g) Eligible disabled voters shall be entitled to electronically receive and return their mail ballot, using the same electronic transmission system as that used by voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. (UOCAVA). This electronic process shall satisfy the federal Rehabilitation Act, section 508 concerning accessibility standards.
(h) For purposes of this section, "eligible disabled voter" means a person with disabilities eligible to vote who certifies, subject to the provisions of §§ 17-20-8(d) and 17-26-1, that they are incapacitated to such an extent that it would be an undue hardship to vote at the polls because of illness, mental or physical disability, blindness, or a serious impairment of mobility.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
Changes from H7007aa:
The amendment modifies the definition of an "eligible disabled voter" regarding permanent mail ballot applications. It adds a requirement that the voter must certify their incapacity, subject to specific statutory penalty provisions, rather than simply stating they are incapacitated.
- In § 17-20-9(h), the definition changes from a person "who is incapacitated" to a person "who certifies, subject to the provisions of §§ 17-20-8(d) and 17-26-1, that they are incapacitated."
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The amendment modifies the definition of an "eligible disabled voter" regarding permanent mail ballot applications. It adds a requirement that the voter must certify their incapacity, subject to specific statutory penalty provisions, rather than simply stating they are incapacitated.
- In § 17-20-9(h), the definition changes from a person "who is incapacitated" to a person "who certifies, subject to the provisions of §§ 17-20-8(d) and 17-26-1, that they are incapacitated."
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