Rhode Island Regulations § 410-RICR-20-00-23.8 BOARD HEARINGS ON THE MERIT

A. The Board shall meet, at a duly noticed meeting consistent with the Open Meetings Act, R.I Gen. Laws § 42-46-1 , et seq ., and consider and decide all meritorious objections filed in writing and in a timely manner. The Board shall provide notice of said hearings to both the challenger and the mail ballot voter. Any voter whose ballot has been challenged may, either personally or through an authorized representative, appear before the Board at the hearing on the challenge and may present evidence as to the validity of the mail ballot. Said notice shall be communicated by mail or, where available, electronically and/or by telephone, to the challenger and voter. The Board shall determine if either oral argument or an evidentiary hearing is warranted. The Board may rule on any objection, with or without oral argument or the consideration of additional testimony or evidence, as the Board deems appropriate.

B. When considering the merits of any objection, the Board shall not construe the statutory requirements set forth under R.L Gen. Laws Chapter 17-20 to require the disqualification of a ballot merely because the voter did not sign his or her name as it is listed on the voter registration list, omitted or included a middle initial or name, abbreviated a first and/or middle name, or made a similar omission or inclusion, as long as the Board can reasonably determine the identification of the voter. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-20-24.1 )

C. When determining the merits of any challenge, and the availability of interested parties, the Board shall consider the circumstances of a voter who is subject to the challenge, particularly with respect to voters who have applied for a mail ballot due to illness or incapacity or is disabled for an indefinite period of time (R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-20-9 (a) ), is confined in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution, or is on active duty in the United States armed forces (R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-20-9.1 ), employed by the United States government and residing outside of the United States (R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-20-9.3 ).

D. Where the Board finds it appropriate and necessary for the determination of the validity of a mail ballot certification, the challenger and challenged voter shall be provided the opportunity to submit evidence, argument, and the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses.

E. The burden of proof in challenging a mail ballot certification envelope in conformance with the statutory requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 17-20, is on the person challenging the ballot. Once the challenger establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the mail ballot was not obtained and/or completed in conformance with the law, the burden of proof shall then shift to the person defending the ballot to demonstrate that it is indeed the ballot of the voter it purports to be, that the voter was eligible to vote by mail ballot, and that all of the applicable requirements have been met.