R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-8-13: Proxy and mail votes.

(a) No member is permitted to vote by proxy, except that the articles of association or bylaws may provide for the casting of ballots by mail and may include in the provisions a provision allowing ballots to be sent to members absent from a meeting. However, the voting shall be only upon candidates for office, or upon propositions the text of which shall have been sent to the members entitled so to vote a specified number of days in advance of the date by which the ballots must be returned.

(b) The articles of association or bylaws may also determine whether and to what extent mail votes are counted in computing a quorum.