In March, the ACLU testified before the House and Senate Judiciary committees in support of legislation to eliminate the exemption of the RI State Board of Elections from the rule-making provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). As it currently stands, the Board can adopt regulations affecting the voting process without having to go through a public notice or hearing process.
The importance of the APA cannot be overstated. People have a right to know the laws and regulations they are supposed to abide by, and to have input into them. The Board of Elections is an important agency that sets the rules for implementing the democratic process of voting, and should not be allowed to operate in the dark; however, no action was taken on this bill.
