Editor’s Note: This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.
Rhode Island’s election system combines cutting-edge technology with robust security measures to ensure accurate and efficient voting processes.
The state’s elections are administered through a collaborative effort between the Department of State’s Elections Division, the State Board of Elections, and local cities and towns. Each entity plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
Rhode Island utilizes modern voting machines and electronic poll books while maintaining paper ballots for added security and auditability. The state implemented online voter registration in 2016 and became the second state to authorize risk-limiting audits in 2017.
“Election Day is a community endeavor with multiple levels of stakeholders,” according to the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website.
The State Board of Elections oversees campaign finance, trains poll workers, prepares voting machines and e-poll books, manages Election Day operations statewide, and certifies election results. Local Boards of Canvassers maintain voter records, process mail ballot applications, recruit poll workers, and oversee local Election Day operations.
The Department of State’s responsibilities include training local officials on the Central Voter Registration System (CVRS), maintaining online voter registration, certifying candidates, preparing ballots, and providing voter information guides and IDs.
In 2015, Rhode Island upgraded its voting technology, procuring 590 DS200 optical scan voting machines from Election Systems & Software. These machines use paper ballots and are not connected to the internet during voting hours, providing multiple layers of security.
“The DS200 voting machines are optical scan machines that use paper ballots. These voting machines are not connected to the internet while polls are open and have several layers of redundancy for security,” the Secretary of State’s website states.
After polls close, each machine prints unofficial results and stores encrypted data on a thumb drive. Results are then securely transmitted to the Board of Elections. The paper ballots remain available for auditing and recounts, allowing for result verification through multiple methods.
Rhode Island introduced electronic poll books statewide in 2018, joining 33 other states in using this technology. These devices have been shown to reduce voter wait times and improve data accuracy at local boards of canvassers.
The electronic poll book system employs multiple security measures to protect confidentiality and data integrity. All communications are encrypted to meet the latest security standards.
In a move toward greater election transparency, Rhode Island authorized risk-limiting audits in 2017. These audits use statistical methods to determine how many ballots need hand-counting to verify Election Day results, with closer margins of victory requiring more extensive audits.
The state’s Central Voter Registration System (CVRS) serves as the statewide database of registered voters. It operates on a closed network with multi-factor authentication and restricted access at various levels.
Rhode Island has also implemented Automated Voter Registration (AVR), which streamlines the registration process beginning at the Department of Motor Vehicles. This system automatically updates voter registration information when citizens update their addresses, helping to maintain accurate voter rolls and reduce the potential for fraud.
“Automatically updating the voter rolls any time a citizen updates his/her address, initially at the DMV and in the future, at any government agency will help ensure that Rhode Island’s voter rolls are as accurate and up to date as possible,” the Secretary of State’s website explains.
For those who prefer to cast their ballots before Election Day, Rhode Island offers early voting. Residents can vote at designated locations in their city or town during the 20 days preceding an election.
These comprehensive measures demonstrate Rhode Island’s commitment to maintaining a secure, accessible, and efficient election system. By combining traditional methods with modern technology, the state aims to ensure that every vote is counted accurately and that the democratic process remains robust and trustworthy for all Rhode Islanders.
The general election will be held on November 5. Information about upcoming elections, including how to register to vote, how to request a mail ballot, and how to determine your polling place, can be found at vote.ri.gov or by calling the RI Department of State Elections Division at 401-222-2340.
