Important state races crucial September 9 Democratic primary for Charlestown's state Representative

HOW TO VOTE

You can register to vote on the Secretary of State's website! The deadline to register to vote in the September Primary is August 10th. If you would like to vote by mail, you can apply for a mail ballot using this application. This form must be received by your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m. on August 19th. If you don’t want to or cannot vote in person and missed the mail ballot application deadline, you may still request an emergency mail ballot from your local Board of Canvassers. Emergency mail ballot period is August 20th to September 8th. Early voting also starts on August 20th and continues until September 8th. Most cities and towns will host early voting at their local board of canvassers, which is located in your city/town hall. Be sure to check the designated early voting location. Primary Election Day is Wednesday, September 9th. Be sure to confirm your polling location using the polling place lookup tool. Polling places typically open at 7 a.m. and close promptly at 8 p.m. You should also check when your polling place opens on Election Day. You will be asked to show a current and valid photo ID when you vote at your polling place. For a complete list of acceptable photo IDs and to learn about provisional ballots, refer to the FAQ section below or download the informational flyer.

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE

Across the United States: Nationwide, a whopping 95% of U.S. adults believe the country is in an affordability crisis. (Harris Poll | July 2026) Trump’s total crypto earnings totaled some $1.4 billion during his first year back in office, when he began making liberalized cryptocurrency regulations a cornerstone of his presidency. (NBC News | June 2026) The average household in America has had to spend more than $3,100 extra on goods and services since Trump took office. (Joint Economic Committee | June 2026) Nearly a third of manufacturers and about 45 percent of service firms fully passed along all tariff-induced cost increases by raising their prices. (Liberty Street Economics | June 2025) ACA premiums likely set for another double-digit rise next year; Insurers are proposing a rate hike of about 14%, driven by rising healthcare costs, inflation and the loss of enhanced tax subsidies. (NBC News | July 2026) Two million fewer children are enrolled in Medicaid since Trump took office. (Georgetown | May 2026) In Rhode Island: In Rhode Island, an estimated 33,000 people — including 1,600 children — are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage by the 2028 federal fiscal year. (WPRI | July 2025) As of May 2026, the average household in Rhode Island has had to spend $3,300+ more on goods and services under President Trump.  (Joint Economic Committee | June 2026) President Trump’s war in Iran has cost the average Rhode Island household $235.34 in rising gas prices. (Brown University | July 2026) In Rhode Island, monthly premiums for 2026 ACA health plans doubled, on average, compared with last year; Thousands of Rhode Islanders dropped Affordable Care Act health plans. (Ocean State Media | March 2026) The Northeast region’s Consumer Price Index rose 4.3% over the year to June 2026, with energy prices up 18.7% and food prices up 3.7% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | June 2026)

Don’t Forget that your voice matters! Vote in the primary election on September 9, then make sure to come back and vote in the general election on November 3.