State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Rhode-island > Title-17 > Chapter-17-19 > 17-19-31SECTION 17-19-31
§ 17-19-31 Irregular ballots. – Ballots voted for any person whose name does not appear on the ballot as anominated candidate for office are referred to in this section as "irregularballots". In voting for presidential electors, a voter may vote an irregularticket made up of the names of persons in nomination by different parties, orpartly of names of persons in nomination and partly of names of persons not innomination, or wholly of names of persons not in nomination by any party. Thecomputer ballot containing the irregular ballot shall be deposited in theoptical scan precinct count unit. With that exception, no irregular ballotshall be voted for any person for any office whose name appears on the ballotas a nominated candidate for that office; any irregular ballot so voted shallnot be counted. An irregular ballot must be cast in its appropriate place onthe ballot, or it shall be void and not counted and no irregular ballots shallbe counted at primaries; provided, that at any presidential primary, irregularballots shall be counted for those persons whose names have been written in forthe office of president. At the close of the polls, irregular ballots shall bepackaged according to § 17-19-33 and shall be immediately delivered to thelocal board of canvassers. The local board shall remain in session on electionnight to receive the ballots, to open the package labeled as containingwrite-in votes, and to count and record all write-in votes cast for allfederal, state and local races listed on the ballot. The local board shallimmediately notify the state board of the results through a procedurepromulgated by the state board.
