Associated Press: Secretary of state proposes early voting in Rhode Island

11.28.2018 / By Jennifer McDermott
Associated Press: Secretary of state proposes early voting in Rhode Island

Passage of this legislation continues to be a priority for Common Cause Rhode Island, a government group. John Marion, the executive director, said Wednesday he’s hopeful. “Some of the political obstacles are fading because both voters and politicians are understanding the value of early voting,” he said.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The demand for mail ballots in the recent election shows the need to allow for early voting, Rhode Island’s secretary of state said Wednesday.

Democrat Nellie Gorbea said about 17,000 traditional mail ballots were returned for the Nov. 6 general election, up from about 11,500 in 2014. She said nearly 11,000 “emergency mail ballots” were returned within 20 days of the election, up from nearly 5,000 in 2014.

Gorbea, who was elected to a second four-year term, said she’ll once again push for a bill to allow early voting at city and town halls within 20 days of an election. The legislative session begins in January. …

Passage of this legislation continues to be a priority for Common Cause Rhode Island, a government group. John Marion, the executive director, said Wednesday he’s hopeful.

“Some of the political obstacles are fading because both voters and politicians are understanding the value of early voting,” he said.

 

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