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Voting & Elections 08.13.2020

Supreme Court Rejects GOP Effort to Force Rhode Islanders to Risk Their Health to Vote During COVID-19 Pandemic

In an important win for voting rights, the Supreme Court today rejected efforts to block Rhode Island from eliminating witness/notary requirements for vote by mail in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state had agreed to drop the requirements via consent decree, resolving a lawsuit brought on behalf of Common Cause of Rhode Island and others.

Voting & Elections 08.10.2020

Groups Respond to RNC, Rhode Island GOP Appeal of Mail Ballot Case to Supreme Court

Two weeks ago, the state of Rhode Island agreed to eliminate witness/notary requirements for vote by mail throughout the 2020 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a consent decree resolving a lawsuit. Today, the Republican National Committee and the Rhode Island Republican Party sought a stay of that consent decree from the U.S. Supreme Court.   

Voting & Elections 07.28.2020

Rhode Island Drops Vote-By-Mail Requirements That Put Voters at Risk During COVID-19 Pandemic

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The state of Rhode Island has agreed to eliminate witness/notary requirements for vote by mail throughout the 2020 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A court signed off on the agreement tonight.

Voting & Elections 07.23.2020

Groups Challenge Rhode Island Vote-By-Mail Requirements That Put Voters at Risk During COVID-19 Pandemic

The lawsuit seeks to block provisions of a state law that require Rhode Islanders who vote by mail to have two witnesses or a notary sign their ballot envelope, even in the midst of a highly contagious and deadly pandemic. These requirements necessitate face-to-face and hand-to-hand interaction between voters and others who pose a potentially fatal risk to the voters’ health.

Voting & Elections 06.12.2020

Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and Voting Rights Groups announce ‘Safe and Healthy Voting in 2020 Act’

Following on the June 2 presidential primary, which saw 83% of all votes cast by mail, a coalition of Rhode Island organizations today announced legislation to implement mail-based voting in the September 8 state primary and the November 3 general election. 

Voting & Elections 03.22.2019

R.I. officials see voting crises on horizon

The 2020 calendar puts Rhode Island’s September primary so close to the general election the state might violate a federal deadline to get ballots to troops serving overseas. And, surging demand to vote before Election Day is swamping the state Board of Elections and city halls in cumbersome “emergency mail ballots.”

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