Rhode Island Board of Elections
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 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?
There are no write-in votes in a primary. The total number of write-in votes cast in the general election 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 such 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.