HB 5514 Rhode Island House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

HB 5514 exempts emergency mail ballots from needing the "Mail voters" wording on the ballot, while regular mail ballots still require this label. This change specifically applies to ballots cast during emergencies under §17-20-2.2(g), streamlining the ballot design for those situations. The bill amends the existing requirement in Section 17-20-18 of the General Laws to remove the wording mandate only for emergency mail ballots. It directly affects voters receiving emergency mail ballots during declared emergencies, without altering voting rights or procedures. The change takes effect immediately upon the bill's passage.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Signed Jun 10, 2025
Floor votes · House Apr 24, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Jun 10, 2025
Signed into law
06/10/2025 Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
06/05/2025 Senate passed in concurrence
upper
May 27, 2025
Legislature · Passed
05/27/2025 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
legislature
May 2, 2025
Committee
05/02/2025 Referred to Senate Judiciary
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
04/24/2025 House read and passed
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Legislature · Passed
04/03/2025 Committee recommends passage
legislature
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
03/18/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
02/13/2025 Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
lower
7 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors