The Rhode Island Board of Elections has released a timeline outlining the process following the polls closing on September 10th, 2024. This timeline shows the different steps that must be taken before the results can be finalized and released to the public.
Schedule
September 10th
Polling Place
These are ballots cast in-person at polling places on September 10th, encrypted, and securely transmitted from the polling place to the Board of Elections when polls close. These results will be available on the Board of Elections’ website (elections.ri.gov) on September 10th beginning at 8:00 p.m.
Early Voting
These results will be transmitted by local Boards of Canvassers on September 10th and will be available on the Board of Elections’ website beginning at 8:00 p.m.
Mail Ballots
While the Board expects to count most mail ballots by September 10th, ballots placed in authorized drop boxes at City/Town Halls or in polling places must still be tabulated. These ballots are sealed in envelopes and held in secure and sealed containers by the local Board of Canvassers and delivered to the Board of Elections on September 11th. Partial mail ballot results will be available on the Board of Elections’ website after 8:00 p.m. but will not include these drop box ballots.
September 11th – 12th
Remaining drop box ballots and any still uncounted mail ballots will be added to the Mail Ballots totals and made available on our website. Any precincts which failed to transmit their results on September 10th due to any technical issues will be added to the primary election results and made available on the Board of Elections’ website.
September 12th – 13th
Provisional ballots results will be added to Polling Place Results and will be made available on the Board of Elections’ website.
September 13th – 16th
Military/overseas ballots and deficient mail ballots cured by voters and due to the Board of Elections by September 13th – 16th will be added to Mail Ballots Results and will be made available on the Board of Elections’ website prior to final primary election results certification.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
