RI Board of Elections September 14 Primary Frequently Asked Questions

The Board of Elections is pleased to present the results of federal, state and local elections throughout Rhode Island. To help you better understand what the results mean, when you can expect the results, and what sort of data is available, we have prepared the following list of anticipated questions and answers.

How Results Are Reported	Registering to Vote and Voting
General Information	Absentee Voting
Provisional Voting	Elected Officials
	Primary and General Elections
	Campaign Finance Disclosure

How Results are Reported for the Election

How are results shown?

For each race, the following is listed: candidate, party, number of votes received at the polling place, number of mail ballot votes, total votes and percentage of votes received by a candidate in the race.

How are races reported?

Races are broken down and reported in the following manner:

Federal And Statewide Races & Referenda

Summary Results Of All Races By Community

Precinct Results Of All Races By Community

State Senate By District

House Of Representatives By District

What is shown in the results for Federal & Statewide Races?

The results for each of these races are compilations of all votes cast statewide.

What are Summary Results Of All Races By Community?

The results for each of these races are compilations of all votes cast statewide.

What are Precinct Results Of All Races By Community?

Precinct results include the votes cast in each precinct for each candidate in each of the precincts throughout the community.

What is reflected in the District results for State Senate and House of Representatives?

The district results include the total votes cast for candidates for Senate or Representative throughout their respective districts only.

When will the results from polling places be available?

Polls close throughout Rhode Island at 9:00 pm The Board of Elections will begin posting the results of votes cast at poling places around 9:00 p.m. and continue to update them approximately every 15 minutes until all polling places have reported.

When will mail ballot results be available?

The Board of Elections commences tabulating mail ballots shortly after the close of the polls on election night. Mail ballot results are added to candidate totals only after all mail ballots cast in the state have been counted. It is expected that the tabulation process will continue into the day following the election and the results will be available sometime that day.

When will provisional ballot results be available?

The Board of Elections commences tabulating provisional ballots at approximately 5pm on the day following the election. Provisional ballot results are added to candidate totals only after all provisional ballots cast in the state have been counted. It is expected that the tabulation process will be concluded that evening and the results will be available sometime that night.

What are "Final Unofficial Results" and when will they be available?

All results are "Unofficial" until all ballots have been tabulated. Results are declared to be "Final Unofficial Results" when all ballots have been tabulated but recounts and hearings have yet to be conducted (see "Official Results" below.) "Final Unofficial Results" are expected to be available within 24 hours after the close of the polls.

When is the election certified and "Official Results" declared?

The Board of Elections cannot certify the election results as "official" until after all recounts and hearings have been conducted. Generally, due to the time frame permitted by law for candidates to file requests for recounts and hearings and depending on the number of recounts and hearings scheduled, it takes up to two weeks after the date of the election for the results to be certified as "official."

Will the results of "Write-in" votes be available?

The total number of "write-in" votes cast in a race will be available as part of the Board of Elections election reporting. However, as each local board of canvassers must manually determine for whom "write-in" votes were cast, the number of votes received by an individual will not be available until shortly after the election when local boards of canvassers report the number of "write-in" votes each person received.

When can I get either a diskette or hard copy of the election results?

"Final Unofficial Results" will be available approximately 2 days after the election while "Official Results" will be available 48 hours after the election is certified by the Board of Elections. You may purchase diskettes or hard copies of the election results by contacting the Board of Elections at (401) 222-2345.

General Information

How many eligible voters are there in Rhode Island for the 2004 Primary?

As of November 2004, there were 709,050 eligible voters in Rhode Island. (see Turnout By Community)

How many precincts are there in Rhode Island for the Primary?

There were 577 precincts throughout the state for the 2004 General Election.

Provisional Voting

What is Provisional Voting?

Provisional Voting is a process to insure that all registered voters are allowed to participate in the election process. These qualified voters will be allowed to cast the same ballot as all others however, the disposition (full ballot, federal offices only, or disqualified) of that ballot will be determined by the voter’s local board of canvassers. The voter may then determine the disposition of their ballot by clicking on here or by calling the Board of Elections at 222-2345.

Who is allowed to vote a provisional ballot?

· An individual whose name does not appear on the list of registered voters for the voting district or the community but claims they have registered to vote
· An individual whose name does not appear on the list of registered voters for the voting district but does appear on the community list and the voter contends they are voting in the correct voting district
· An individual who does not have an approved form of identification, as required
· An individual has been challenged by an election official

Registering To Vote And Voting

How do I register to vote?

You can register to vote in Rhode Island by completing a Voter Registration Form which may be obtained at your local Board of Canvassers or the RI Board of Elections. You can pick up the form - or have someone else pick it up for you - at either place or call to request that a form be mailed to you or click here to fill out a request form. Request a Voter Registration Form Many agencies which serve the public, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Human Services, Department of Mental Health etc. also offer registration services to their clients as mandated by the National Voter Registration Act.

I need to update my registration record because I have:

moved

married

changed my last name

wish to change my party affiliation

How do I do that?

You can change your registration record on the same form that is used for an original registration. See previous question for more information

If I register by mail, how do I know my registration has been received and processed?

If you register to vote or change your name and/or address by mail or at an agency, you will receive a notice informing you that your registration has been received by the local board of canvassers. If you do not receive a notice acknowledging receipt of your registration within three (3) weeks, call your local board of canvassers.

What is the deadline for registering to vote in a primary or election?

You must register at least 30 days before a primary or election in which you wish to vote.

How long do I have to live in a city/town in Rhode Island to vote there?

You can register to vote as soon as you move to that city/town as long as you intend to make your primary residence here. However, you cannot vote for local candidates or issues until you have been registered at that address for 30 days.

How old do I have to be to register to vote?

You may register to vote before you turn 18, but you must be 18 on election day in order to vote.

What (senate) (representative) (voting) district do I live in?

These district numbers are shown on the acknowledgement card you were sent when you registered to vote. If you do not have your acknowledgement card, call your Local Board of Canvassers for this information.

I was convicted of a felony, but have served my time and am on probation. Can I register to vote?

No. A convicted felon may not register to vote unless unconditionally discharged from custody. When you are no longer on probation and have fulfilled all the terms of your sentencing you may register to vote.

I own two residences in Rhode Island in different communities. Am I eligible to vote in both places for local candidates and issues?

No. You must choose one place as your primary residence and that will determine where you are eligible to vote. Click here for more information on "residence" for voting purposes.

I have a Power of Attorney for my (wife) (husband). Can I register or vote for her/him?

No. Each person must sign or make a mark on an application when registering to vote or voting. No one can do this for someone else.

I need help when I vote. What are my options?

You may bring anyone you choose to assist you with voting except your employer, an agent of your employer or an officer or agent of your union. You may also ask the warden at the polling place to provide a pair of bi-partisan supervisors to assist you. You and those helping you will be asked to sign an affidavit stating that you have requested assistance.

What type of identification do I need at the polling place?

You do not need identification at the polling place. You will be asked your name which will be checked on the voter list.

Can I register to vote as an "independent"?

Rhode Island does not have an independent party. You may choose to register as "unaffiliated" which means you will not be considered a member of any political party - unless and until you vote in a political party primary. If you do vote in a party primary you will be considered a member of that party and will not be able to vote in another party's primary until you have been disaffiliated for 90 days. You may pick up a disaffiliation form at any polling place after you have voted in a primary or obtain one from your local board of canvassers.

Absentee Voting

I am leaving town before election day and want to vote. How can I do that?

You can request that an absentee ballot be sent to you at an address out of state or vote an absentee ballot at your local board of canvassers before you leave. Click here for more information about voting by mail. The deadline to apply for a regular absentee ballot falls on the 21st day prior to the election. If the circumstances that make you eligible for an absentee ballot arise after that deadline, you may be eligible for an emergency ballot. Check with your Local Board of Canvassers for more detailed information. The deadline to apply for an emergency ballot is 4:00 pm on the day before the election.

I received my absentee ballot by mail as I requested, but my plans have changed and I will be home on election day and want to vote at my polling place. What should I do with my absentee ballot?

When a voter applies for an absentee ballot, that fact is recorded at the Local Board of Canvassers and the voter's name is taken off the list of eligible voters for his/her polling place. In order to be able to vote at the polling place, you must return the absentee ballot to the Local Board

Is there any way I can have absentee ballots automatically sent to me for every election?

No. If you are permanently incapacitated to the extent that it would be a hardship to go to the polling place, you may request that the Local Board of Canvassers put your name on their list to automatically receive absentee ballot applications for a period of 5 years. Call your Local Board for more information.

My son/daughter attends a college which is in Rhode Island but not in the town where he/she is registered to vote? Does he/she have to make the trip to his/her polling place on election day?

No. Your son/daughter can apply for an absentee ballot which will be mailed to your child's address at the college or university or to his/her voting residence.

Elected Officials

How can I find out who my state legislators and city/town elected officials are?

Click here for a list of Rhode Island state senators and representatives by district. If you don't know your district, you can get this information from your Local Board of Canvassers. They will also be able to give you the names of your local elected officials. You can also find information on Rhode Island's elected officials at the website http://www.state.ri.us.

How many delegates does Rhode Island send to the electoral college?

Four.

How many U.S. Congressional Districts does Rhode Island have?

Rhode Island has two U.S. Congressional Districts. Click here for map.

Primary and General Elections

What type of Primary Election does the state of Rhode Island conduct?

Rhode Island has a 'closed' or party primary system. This means that you may only vote in one party's primary. If you are registered as "unaffiliated" you may vote in the primary of any party you choose. Once you vote in a primary, however, you are considered a member of that party until and unless you "disaffiliate". You may do this by signing an affidavit of disaffiliation at the polling place after you vote or by filling out a new registration form at any time. The disaffiliation takes effect in 90 days. If you indicated a party preference when you registered to vote, you may only vote in that party's primary. If you wish to vote in another party's primary, you must disaffiliate at least 90 days before the primary date.

When does my polling place open? When does it close?

Polls are open during the hours listed on the chart below for statewide primaries and general elections.

CITY/TOWN	POLLS OPEN	POLLS CLOSE
Barrington, Bristol, Central Falls, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Exeter, Glocester, Johnston, Narragansett, North Providence, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Greenwich, West Warwick	7:00 a.m.	9:00 p.m.
Foster, Lincoln, Middletown, Newport, North Smithfield, Tiverton, Warren, Woonsocket	8:00 a.m.	9:00 p.m.
Burrillville, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Jamestown, New Shoreham, Little Compton, North Kingstown, Richmond, Westerly	9:00 a.m.	9:00 p.m.

Who chooses poll workers? Who pays poll workers?

Poll workers are chosen and paid by the Local Boards of Canvassers in each city and town. They must attend a training session conducted by the RI Board of Elections.

Campaign Finance Disclosure

I plan to run for a political office. Where can I find out about the campaign finance reports I will have to file?

You can call the Campaign Finance division of the RI Board of Elections at (401) 222-2056. More information on campaign finance issues can be found by clicking here.

Which office handles conflict of interest issues?

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission is responsible for conflict of interest statements. Their office is located at 40 Fountain Street, Providence and the telephone number is (401) 222-3790.