Rhode Island GOP concerned over election bill eliminating ID for mail-in ballots

Rhode Island Republican Party members are concerned about elections legislation facing a vote in the state Senate on Tuesday that eliminates an identification requirement for mail-in ballots.

The state currently requires that either two witnesses or a notary attest to the identity of a voter casting their ballot by mail. However, state Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Cienki and Republican Sen. Jessica de la Cruz expressed concern over a bill from the General Assembly that eliminates that requirement without replacing it with any other ID requirement, such as a driver's license or state identification card number, The Providence Journal reported.

"There has to be a system where every eligible voter knows that their vote will be cast by them ... [and] it is not an undue burden to provide an ID ... [which proves] you exist," Cienki said. 

"Without an ID you cannot open a bank account, drive a car, get government assistance, fly on a plane, cash a check. Your vote should be as important as any of those life necessities. We never want someone to take your vote away."

Cienki also noted how the bill does not ban ballot harvesting.

"Prohibiting the practice of mail-ballot harvesting would help protect the integrity of elections by reducing the possibility that voters will be intimidated or bribed by campaigns," she said during a news conference at the State House.

The General Assembly passed the legislation, which makes some voting changes permanent that were originally added during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the elimination of the witness requirement for absentee ballots, according to the Journal.

The legislation also allows voters to apply online for mail-in ballots, but requires either a driver's license or state ID number issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles. However, if a mail-in ballot is requested via different means, that is not online, then ID is not required. Voter ID would also not be required for the submission and counting of a mail-in ballot, the outlet noted.