Rep. Brien legislation would shorten early voting timeline to ease burden on cities, towns

 

STATE HOUSE — To help ease the election-time burden of local boards of canvassers, Rep. Jon D. Brien (I-Dist. 49, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) has introduced legislation that would shorten the time period for mail-in ballot applications.

The legislation (2023-H 5956) would modify the timeline to receive a mail-in ballot from 21 days prior to the day of election to 14 days prior to the day of election. The bill would also modify the emergency mail ballot timeline from 20 days prior to the day of election to 13 days prior to the day of election.

“When the General Assembly adopted early voting in Rhode Island, it created an election month, or an election season,” said Representative Brien. “And it has created too much of a burden for the cities and towns, especially with the Board of Canvassers. The reason for this is that we don’t really have early voting in Rhode Island, we have emergency balloting that’s used for early voting. And my goal is to shorten that period to ease the burden on these local officials.”

Members of the Woonsocket Board of Canvassers submitted written testimony to the House Committee on State Government and Elections in favor of the legislation.

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence), Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland), Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick), House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry), William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) and Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly).                 

 

                                    

President Trump says the tariffs imposed on other countries are having the desired effect, and he's now open to negotiations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said his initial tariff plan is over, and he's watching it settle in. He said every country has called, asking to cut a trade deal with the U.S. to avoid the tariffs.        Stocks are closing sharply lower one day after President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. The S&P 500 had its worse day since 2020 as the White House announced a baseline tariff rate of ten-percent against most countries yesterday that will go into effect on Saturday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 16-79 to 40-545. The S&P 500 lost 274 points to 53-96. The Nasdaq lost 10-50 points to 16-550.        A multi-day severe weather event is unfolding for more than 55-million people. It comes after at least seven people were killed in the South Central U.S. after storms that included several tornadoes hit the region yesterday. Tonight, there is still a tornado threat for the same areas, but forecasters warn there could also be potentially catastrophic flooding in the Mid-South and Midwest.        The Federal Aviation Administration is offering more support to air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport. The Critical Incident Stress Management team will be meeting with airport personnel sometime early this month. The FAA is also reviewing the arrival rate at the airport and will conduct regular wellness checks.        The Senate has confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The television personality was confirmed on a party-line vote of 53-45. Oz now assumes a role that provides health insurance to roughly 160 million Americans.        Steven Spielberg and George Lucas top the latest Forbes list of celebrity billionaires. The latest Forbes ranking of the world's wealthiest people includes 18 celebrities, with film director Steven Spielberg topping the list at five-point-three-billion dollars. Star Wars creator George Lucas is in second place with a net worth of five-point-one-billion dollars.