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RI Board of Elections says, “We’re ready”!
Photo: Time Magazine turned their title over to a simple message – VOTE
Prepared for November 3rd Election Day and Vote Certification Process
The Rhode Island Board of Elections is assuring Rhode Island voters and candidates that the state’s voting and election systems are fully prepared for Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd and prepared to efficiently process and count all ballots (in-person, mail, emergency, provisional) and certify final results.
“With an ongoing pandemic and the huge increase in mail and emergency ballots we’ve seen as a result, this is going to be an unprecedented Election Day, but one that the Rhode Island Board of Elections is fully prepared for,” said Robert Rapoza, Executive Director. “We’ve been working closely with our partners in the Secretary of State’s Office and the General Assembly for months to ensure every eligible Rhode Island voter has convenient, safe, and secure options to cast their ballot.”
On Thursday, the BOE said that more than 100,000 voters have already cast their ballot at city or town hall, and there are still several days of early in-person voting remaining.
“We’re pleased to see that so many Rhode Islanders have already cast their ballot by mail or by emergency voting at their city or town hall. Indeed, to date, the Board of Elections has processed over 175,000 mail ballots and 100,000 emergency ballots,” continued Rapoza. “Voters can check the status of their mail ballot using our Mail Ballot Status Lookup tool available on our website (elections.ri.gov). Voters who have received mail ballots also have the option to drop their completed ballot off at any of the 41 secure drop boxes at city and town halls across the state.”
“For Rhode Islanders planning to vote in-person on November 3rd, the Board of Elections, working with our 39 city and town Board of Canvasser clerk partners, will have 406 voting locations available and 461 voting machines deployed across the state,” continued Rapoza. “We’ve worked hard to train Election Day poll workers, and to provide all polling locations with Personal Protective Equipment including hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, social distancing placards, and floor markers. Rhode Islanders looking to find their polling location, view sample ballots, or with questions about how to vote should visit the Secretary of State’s Voter Information Center (vote.sos.ri.gov) or the Board of Elections’ website (elections.ri.gov). Voters can also call 2-1-1 with voting and election related questions.”
“Finally, once all ballots have been cast by the November 3rd at 8:00 PM deadline, the Board of Elections is ready to efficiently process and count vote totals and report results to the public as quickly as possible,” continued Rapoza. “We have more than 50 staff working with us on election night and election week to process and count all ballots – in-person, mail, emergency, provisional – report out results via our website, and ultimately certify final results.”
Election Facts and Resources
· 41 secure drop boxes deployed across the state. Voters can drop off completed mail ballots at ANY of these locations, regardless of which town they are registered to vote in. Full list of drop box locations is available here: https://elections.ri.gov/elections/dropboxes/index.php
· Mail Ballot Status Lookup available to voters here: https://www.ri.gov/BOE/mail_ballot_status/
· 406 Rhode Island in-person polling locations. Voters can find their polling location by visiting the Secretary of State’s Voter Information Center (vote.sos.ri.gov), the Board of Elections’ website (elections.ri.gov), or by calling 2-1-1.
· 461 voting machines deployed statewide.
· More than 175,000 mail ballots processed to date
· More than 131,000 emergency ballots processed to date.
· The Board of Elections has security provided 24 hours per day at election headquarters. On Election Day, 2 Rhode Island State Police officers will be located in election headquarters throughout the day.
· In partnership with VotingWorks, the Rhode Island Board of Elections will conduct a Risk-Limiting Audit of results to ensure accuracy and safeguard against hacked or otherwise faulty voting systems. Rhode Island is one of only 5 states conducting a Risk-Limiting Audit, considered the “gold standard” of post-election auditing.
Frequently Asked Voting Questions for RI
About those Mail Ballots
The Rhode Island Board of Elections has released a Frequently Asked Questions document addressing common questions Rhode Island voters may have about mail ballots.
Q: I submitted an application for a mail ballot and haven’t received it. How do I check the status?
A: Visit vote.ri.gov to verify the status of your application. It can take up to 5 days for a ballot to be mailed after an application is received. Ballots are typically sent about 1 month before an election if an application has already been received. You can check the status of your application and ballot at vote.ri.gov. If the system indicates no application has been received, please contact your Board of Canvassers in your City/Town Hall. They are responsible for approving your application.
Q: Can I check the status of my mail ballot directly with the Board of Elections?
A: Yes, you can visit the Voter Portal to obtain a status on whether it is in Processing, Accepted, or Disqualified.
· Processing means your signature/identity is being verified.
· Accepted means your signature/identity has been verified and your ballot has been approved to be counted. It will be opened and placed through our high-speed counter.
· Deficiency means there was an issue verifying your signature or identity and you will need to correct the issue. You will be mailed a notice.
· Disqualified means your ballot was received late or there was an issue verifying your signature/identity and you did not correct it by Nov. 10.
Q: My Ballot says “Pending Certification” within my voter record on the Secretary of State Voter Information Portal at vote.ri.gov. What does that mean?
A: This means your signature is at the Board of Elections and is in the process of being compared to the signature on your voter registration record.
Q: What if my signature doesn’t match?
A: The Board of Elections employs bipartisan teams to compare signatures. They attend a training conducted by a former FBI forensic signature analyst. We understand that voters’ handwriting may change due to normal variations or injury or disability. If your signature doesn’t match we will attempt to verify the driver’s license/state-issued ID or last 4 digits of your SSN that you can optionally provide. If we are unable to verify this information with DMV or the Social Security Administration or you don’t provide it, we will lastly attempt to compare the signature on your mail ballot application to the signature on your voter registration record. If it doesn’t match, your ballot will be disqualified per state law.
Q: If my signature or information cannot be verified and my mail ballot is disqualified, will I be notified?
A: Yes, you will receive a notice in the mail and still have time to have your ballot counted. Please sign the notice and have it signed by 2 witnesses or notarized and return it to our office in the postage prepaid return envelope by 4pm on Nov. 10. You may also return it to the Board of Elections Drop Box at 2000 Plainfield Pike in Cranston.
Q: I dropped my ballot off at a drop box when will it be marked as received?
A: Mail ballots within drop boxes are collected by Board of Election teams each day and brought to our secure facility where the mailing envelopes are opened. The interior envelopes containing the voter’s signature and barcode are then scanned as received This process can take several days depending on the volume. If your ballot is placed in one of our authorized drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, it will be eligible to be counted.
Q: I requested a mail ballot but no longer want to vote by mail. Can I to vote an in-person emergency ballot at my city/town hall?
A: Unfortunately, you cannot vote an in-person emergency ballot once you have requested a mail ballot. You should deposit your mail ballot in any authorized drop box or deliver it to the Board of Elections.
Q: When does my mail ballot need to be at the Board of Elections?
A: We must receive your ballot at our facility at 2000 Plainfield Pike in Cranston (parking lot drop box) or in one of our authorized drop boxes around the state by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 in order to be eligible to be counted. Military and Overseas ballots receive an additional week to return their ballots.
Mail ballot received by you – but you haven’t sent it in yet? STOP!
The Rhode Island Board of Elections is encouraging voters who have received mail ballots but have not yet placed their completed ballot in the mail, to utilize any of the 41 secure drop box locations at city and town halls across the state. The drop box does not need to be in the city or town where the voter resides and is registered. Voters may place the completed oath envelope with the enclosed voted ballot in the drop box of his or her choosing.
“With just a few days until Election Day, we want Rhode Island voters who have received a mail ballot to know they can utilize any of the 41 secure drop box locations we have set up at city and town halls around the state,” said Robert Rapoza, Executive Director. “Using these drop boxes, voters can be assured that their ballot will be received and counted by the Board of Elections. Drop boxes will also be available at every polling location on Election Day. Drop box locations can be utilized until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 3rd.”
Drop box locations by city / town:
| City/Town | Location | Address |
| CRANSTON | BOARD OF ELECTIONS | 2000 PLAINFIELD PIKE (located on right hand side of the parking lot) |
| PROVIDENCE | SECRETARY OF STATE | 148 WEST RIVER ST |
| BARRINGTON | TOWN HALL | 283 COUNTY RD |
| BRISTOL | TOWN HALL | 10 COURT ST |
| BURRILLVILLE | TOWN HALL | 105 HARRISVILLE MAIN ST |
| CENTRAL FALLS | POLICE STATION | 160 ILLINOIS ST |
| CHARLESTOWN | TOWN HALL | 4540 S COUNTY TRL |
| COVENTRY | TOWN HALL | 1675 FLAT RIVER RD |
| CRANSTON | CITY HALL | 869 PARK AVE (located at the main entrance to City Hall |
| CUMBERLAND | TOWN HALL | 45 BROAD ST |
| EAST GREENWICH | POLICE STATION | 176 FIRST AVE |
| EAST PROVIDENCE | CITY HALL | 145 TAUNTON AVE |
| EXETER | TOWN HALL | 675 TEN ROD RD |
| FOSTER | TOWN HALL | 181 HOWARD HILL RD |
| GLOCESTER | TOWN HALL | 1145 PUTNAM PIKE |
| HOPKINTON | TOWN HALL | 1 TOWNHOUSE RD |
| JAMESTOWN | TOWN HALL | 93 NARRAGANSETT AVE |
| JOHNSTON | TOWN HALL | 1385 HARTFORD AVE |
| LINCOLN | TOWN HALL | 100 OLD RIVER RD |
| LITTLE COMPTON | TOWN HALL | 40 COMMONS |
| MIDDLETOWN | TOWN HALL | 350 E MAIN RD |
| NARRAGANSETT | TOWN HALL | 25 5TH AVE |
| NEWPORT | CITY HALL | 43 BROADWAY |
| NEW SHOREHAM | TOWN HALL | 16 OLD TOWN RD |
| NORTH KINGSTOWN | TOWN HALL | 100 FAIRWAY DR |
| NORTH PROVIDENCE | TOWN HALL | 2000 SMITH ST |
| NORTH SMITHFIELD | TOWN HALL | 83 GREEN ST |
| PAWTUCKET | CITY HALL | 137 ROOSEVELT AVE |
| PORTSMOUTH | TOWN HALL | 2200 E MAIN RD |
| PROVIDENCE | CITY HALL | 25 DORRANCE ST |
| RICHMOND | TOWN HALL | 5 RICHMOND TOWNHOUSE RD |
| SCITUATE | TOWN HALL | 195 DANIELSON PIKE |
| SMITHFIELD | TOWN HALL | 64 FARNUM PIKE |
| SOUTH KINGSTOWN | TOWN HALL | 180 HIGH ST |
| TIVERTON | TOWN HALL | 343 HIGHLAND RD |
| WARREN | TOWN HALL | 515 MAIN ST |
| WARWICK | CITY HALL | 3275 POST RD |
| WESTERLY | TOWN HALL | 45 BROAD ST |
| WEST GREENWICH | TOWN HALL | 280 VICTORY HWY |
| WEST WARWICK | TOWN HALL | 1170 MAIN ST |
| WOONSOCKET | CITY HALL | 169 MAIN ST |
Two days ago, Board staff counted the first 7,874 mail ballots during the first day of counting using 1 of 3 high-speed scanners. 2 scanners will be used tomorrow and through the weekend, and 3 scanners will be used Monday and Election Day.
To better help Rhode Islanders understand the vote tallying and public results reporting process during this unprecedented election, the Rhode Island Board of Elections has released the following timeline:
November 3rd
Polling Place
These are ballots cast in-person at polling places on November 3rd, encrypted, and securely transmitted from the polling place to the Board of Elections when polls close. These results will be available on the Board of Elections’ website (elections.ri.gov) on Election Night beginning at 8 p.m.
In-Person Emergency Voting
These results will be transmitted by local Boards of Canvassers on Election Night and will be available on the Board of Elections’ website beginning at 10 p.m.
Mail Ballots
While the Board expects to count most mail ballots by November 3rd, ballots placed in authorized drop boxes at City/Town Halls or in polling places must still be tabulated. These ballots are sealed in envelopes and held in secure and sealed containers by the local Board of Canvassers and will be retrieved by Board of Elections teams on November 3rd. Partial mail ballot results will be available on the Board of Elections’ website beginning at 11 p.m. but will not include these drop box ballots.
November 4th – 5th
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 Election Night due to any technical issues will be added to the Election Day results and made available on the Board of Elections’ website.
November 7th – 9th
Provisional ballots results will be added to Polling Place Results and will be made available on the Board of Elections’ website.
November 10th
Deficient mail ballots cured by voters and due to the Board of Elections by November 10th will be added to Mail Ballots Results and will be made available on the Board of Elections’ website prior to final certification.
Early voting ends Monday at 4pm
