Secretary of State
Nellie M. Gorbea has been an advocate of early in-person voting
since taking office in 2015, and this month saw her efforts come to
fruition.
The Rhode Island General Assembly passed an early in-person
voting law that will allow voters to cast their ballots at city or town
hall up to 20 days before an election. Governor Gina Raimondo signed
the bill into law on July 22.
"Early
in-person voting is a major step forward for elections in Rhode
Island," said Secretary Gorbea. "The more options voters have to
safely and securely cast a ballot, the better - especially during the
COVID-19 pandemic. This measure will help reduce crowding at indoor polling
places and will ensure greater access to the ballot box for voters going
forward."
Rhode Island
voters who wish to vote early in-person should contact their city or town
hall or their local board of canvassers.
Voters will be required to present photo identification in accordance with
Rhode Island's voter ID law. Early in-person voters will fill out a ballot
and cast it into a voting machine as they normally would at a polling
place.
Rhode Island
voters also have the option of applying for a mail ballot
or voting at a polling place on Election Day. Voters can request a mail
ballot application from Secretary Gorbea's office or their local board of
canvassers. Secretary Gorbea has also arranged for printed mail ballot
applications to be available throughout Rhode Island at public libraries,
public housing authorities, and community action programs.
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