Early voting for the statewide primary opened Thursday in the second-floor conference room of Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, and continues during regular business hours until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Emergency mail ballots are available in the Canvassing Office over the same period.
Extended hours are set for Wednesday, Aug. 26, when early voting will run until the 6:30 p.m. City Council meeting.
The primary is Wednesday, Sept. 9 — the Wednesday after Labor Day, rather than the usual Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters with mail ballots should consider using the official drop box in front of City Hall rather than the postal system after Friday, Aug. 28. Mail ballots must be returned to the Canvassing Office, the City Hall drop box, or a light blue receptacle at a polling place by 8 p.m. on primary day.
Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore and Attorney General Peter F. Neronha marked the start of early voting Thursday by pointing voters to a “Know Your Rights” guide, now available in a pocket-sized version in English and Spanish.
“Eligible Rhode Islanders should be able to cast their ballot easily and without fear of intimidation,” Amore said.
Voters who witness what they believe to be election-related crimes, or who have concerns about their voting experience, can file a complaint through the attorney general’s online form, email voting@riag.ri.gov or elections@sos.ri.gov, contact the Board of Elections at elections.email@elections.ri.gov, or reach the Newport Canvassing Office or Newport Police.
Looking ahead, the deadline to register for the Nov. 3 general election is Oct. 4, and early voting for that election begins Oct. 14.
