Gov. McKee Makes it Easier for Rhode Islanders to Vote in Fair and Free Elections

Gov. Dan McKee just made it easier for Rhode Islanders to cast their ballots in fair, free, and secure elections, signing the ‘Let RI Vote Act’ into law today.

The landmark legislation makes mail voting easier by allowing online mail ballot applications and permitting any voter to use a mail ballot or an emergency mail ballot without needing an excuse for why they can’t visit their polling location on Election Day. It also drops the requirement that mail ballots be either signed by two witnesses or notarized.

“There is nothing more fundamentally American than the right to vote…The Let RI Vote Act makes voting easier, safer, and more secure, and making it easier to give Rhode Islanders a voice in their government should always be our top priority,” said Governor McKee.

The bill removes barriers to access the ballot box, particularly those impacting seniors, people with disabilities, and people of color. The act allows nursing home residents to opt in to automatically receive applications for mail ballots for every subsequent election, reduces the application deadline for a Braille ballot, and requires the Secretary of State to establish a permanent multilingual voter information hotline.

“In the midst of the GOP’s coordinated attacks on our democratic institutions and our fundamental rights — including the right to vote — Gov. McKee is making it easier for Rhode Islanders to safely, easily, and securely cast their ballots,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “By signing this legislation, Gov. McKee is ensuring that every Rhode Islander has a voice in their democracy.”