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With 100% of polling places reporting, the race for Newport’s First Ward on Newport City Council has been narrowed down to two candidates for the November 5 General Election.

According to unofficial results from the Rhode Island Board of Elections, Ellen M. Pinnock and Hugo J. DeAscentis, Jr. were the top two vote-getters in the Primary for Ward 1.

With just 405 total votes cast in Ward 1, Ellen Pinnock picked up 55.3% of the vote, Hugo J. DeAscentis, Jr. 26.9%, and Charles F. Pattavina 17.8%.

Non-Partisan Council Newport Ward 1

CandidateBallot breakoutTotal votesPct
Ellen M. PinnockPolling place: 168Mail ballots: 0Early Voting: 5622455.3%
Hugo J. DeAscentis, Jr.Polling place: 85Mail ballots: 0Early Voting: 2410926.9%
Charles F. PattavinaPolling place: 58Mail ballots: 0Early Voting: 147217.8%

Incumbent Angela Lima chose not to seek election to Newport City Council, meaning Newport City Council will have a brand new member despite whoever wins on November 5.

According to the Rhode Island Department of State, Newport has 13,714 active-status registered voters. Approximately 45% (6,224) are registered Democrats, 42% are Unaffiliated, and 12% (1,673) are registered Republicans.

The Rhode Island Board of Elections shared the following timeline, which shows the different steps that must be taken before the results can be finalized and released to the public.

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.​

The voter registration deadline for the November 5 General Election is Sunday, October 6.

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Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...

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