SB 520 Rhode Island Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

SB 520 simplifies the process for voters who are indefinitely confined due to illness or disability, or long-term nursing home residents, to automatically receive mail ballots for every election. It allows these voters to apply by signing an affidavit (submitted online via a secretary of state portal or by mail), with the secretary of state maintaining a central list of eligible voters in the voter registration system. Voters must notify local officials if they no longer qualify, leading to removal from the list within five days. The bill also includes a temporary provision (expiring December 2025) enabling eligible disabled voters to return mail ballots electronically, meeting federal accessibility standards.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 26, 2025 Signed Jun 24, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 10, 2025

How they voted

284
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 36
Jun 10, 2025
D Democratic32
28 Yea 4
87% Yea
R Republican4
4 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
4
Committee
2
Jun 24, 2025
Signed into law
06/24/2025 Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
06/18/2025 House passed in concurrence
lower
Jun 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
06/10/2025 Senate read and passed
upper
Jun 2, 2025
Legislature · Passed
06/02/2025 Committee recommends passage
legislature
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
03/20/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
02/26/2025 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
upper
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors