Representative Evan P. Shanley
Chair, House State Government and Elections Committee
Member, House Innovation and Technology Committee
Member, House Rules Committee
Evan
P. Shanley (D) was first elected in November 2016 to the seat in House District
24, Warwick. He is the chairman of the House State Government and Elections
Committee and a member of the House Innovation and Technology
Committee and the House
Rules Committee.
During the 2024 session, Representative Shanley introduced the Rhode Island Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, which established a convenient, low-cost public-option retirement savings program for Rhode Islanders.
He also sponsored legislation in 2024 that established data transparency guidelines and strengthened online privacy through the Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act, which requires online service providers and commercial websites to identify all categories of information collected.
A
strong advocate for fair, secure and transparent elections, he introduced new
laws during the 2023 session that change certain deadlines for declarations of
candidacy and party disaffiliation, as well as changing the date of special
primary elections to streamline the electoral process.
In
2022, Representative Shanley introduced a new law that allows for the early
certification of mail ballots as well as establishing a new and more
comprehensive mail ballot voter signature verification process. He also
championed the “Let
RI Vote Act,” which expands voter access while ensuring the integrity of
Rhode Island elections.
In
2021, he sponsored a law to ensure that all students who wish to pursue a
career and technical education have
access to high quality programs both within and outside of their community
of residence.
In
2020, Representative Shanley introduced a law that amends
the state’s emergency mail ballot procedures in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic. The legislation adds an additional option for securing a mail ballot
by permitting emergency mail ballot applications to be processed at local
boards of canvassers in person on electronic poll pads, which allows voters to
cast their ballot and place the ballot themselves into a state-approved voting
machine at the local board of canvassers. Voters have up to 20 days before the
election to vote in this manner.
He
also introduced a resolution that created a special
legislative commission to study privacy protection on the Internet. The
11-member Rhode Island Online Data Transparency and Privacy Protection
Commission studied and made recommendations on legislation for protecting
individuals from disclosures of information.
Representative Shanley
graduated from Toll Gate High School in 2005 and earned a bachelor’s degree in
political science and history from Providence College in 2009. He earned his
juris doctor from Catholic University in 2012. He practices law with the firm
Gursky/Wiens.
Born
Oct. 17, 1986, he and his wife, Meredith (Garrity), reside in Warwick with
their son, Maxwell, and daughter, Lucille.