# Rhode Island H7494: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS . Rhode Island H7494, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Evan P. Shanley (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 418) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7494-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H7494 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-04 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 418 - Sponsor: Evan P. Shanley (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 6 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (69 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More public access to mail-ballot processing: benefit, low. Mail-ballot processing happens in a secure area with a place for the public to watch. Voters’ representatives, candidates, party reps, and the press can observe under state board rules. The board must post notice on its and the secretary of state’s websites at least 24 hours before any session and… - Secure storage and early mail-ballot certification: benefit, low. The state board keeps mail ballots in a safe, separate area, with security measures like cameras. It starts certifying mail ballots 20 days before each election and continues on election day. After certification, ballots are sorted by city or town and counted on a central optical-scan machine. - ID number required on mail ballot applications: cost, low. When you apply for a mail or emergency mail ballot, you must list one ID: your Rhode Island driver’s license number, your state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Election officials use this to verify and process your request. If you do not include one, your applicat… - Stronger signature checks with chance to fix: mixed, low. Before your mail ballot is certified, two reviewers must agree your signature matches the one in the voter system. If they do not agree, supervisors review and may compare it to your application and the ID numbers you provided. If it still does not match, your envelope is set aside and you are noti… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Evan P. Shanley (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Julie A. Casimiro (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Matthew S. Dawson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jon D. Brien (Independent), House - Cosponsor: Katherine S. Kazarian (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-03 | House | ELECTIONS - MAIL BALLOTS PASSAGE | pass | 69 | 0 | | ## Actions (11) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 418 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-09: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-05: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/09/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-03: House read and passed (House) - 2026-05-29: Placed on House Calendar (06/03/2026) (House) - 2026-05-28: Committee recommends passage - 2026-05-22: Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026) - 2026-03-10: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-06: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/10/2026) - 2026-02-04: Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections (House) ## Bill text - H7494 - As Introduced, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7494.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7494.pdf) ## Related bills - H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law) - H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT . (became law) - H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) ## Sources - [H7494 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7494.htm) - [H7494 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7494.pdf) ## Related - [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026) - [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026) - [H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7866-2026) - [H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7642-2026) - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7494-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).