PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea will give voters a test drive of their new voting machines in a series of voter outreach events throughout Rhode Island. Voters across the state will cast their votes with the new voting equipment starting with the September 13 Primary election. The voter outreach events give Rhode Islanders the opportunity to preview and interact with the machines ahead of the elections this fall.
The voting machines feature an enhanced user interface and utilize wireless connectivity that allows for faster results reporting on election night. While voters will be casting familiar paper ballots, a newly cleaned up ballot design now has voters filling in an oval rather than connecting an arrow.
"When I ran for office, I pledged to Rhode Islanders that I would utilize the latest technology to modernize elections in our state. I'm pleased to make good on that promise," Secretary Gorbea said. "By updating our voting equipment, we are updating Democracy's infrastructure. I'm sending the new machines out to Rhode Island voters so that they know how to use them on Election Day."
Rhode Islanders can use the new equipment at voter outreach events detailed below. Department of State Elections staff will also be available to give eligible Rhode Islanders the opportunity to register to vote or update their voter registration information using the state's new Online Voter Registration portal at vote.ri.gov.
Friday, September 02, 2016 – 12:30 PM - Leon Mathieu Senior Center, 420 Main St., Pawtucket
Tuesday, September 06, 2016 – 10:00 AM - St. Martin De Porres Senior Center, 160 Cranston St., Providence
Thursday, September 08, 2016 – 11:00 AM - Johnston Senior Center, 1291 Hartford Ave., Johnston
Friday, September 09, 2016 – 11:00 AM - Pilgrim Senior Center, 27 Pilgrim Pkwy., Warwick
Saturday, September 10, 2016 – 11:00 AM - Voterpalozza, 40 South Main St., Woonsocket
Sunday, September 11, 2016 – 12:30 PM - Bethel AME Church, 30 Rochambeau Ave., Providence
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 – 11:30 AM -Edward King House, 35 King St., Newport
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – 11:30 AM - Park Holm Senior Center, 1 Parkholm, Newport
Saturday, September 24, 2016 – 10:00 AM - Exeter Library, 773 Ten Rod Road (Rt 102), Exeter
Saturday, September 24, 2016 – 3:00 PM - West Greenwich Town Hall, 280 Victory Highway , West Greenwich
Thursday, October 06, 2016 – 11:00 AM - Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St, Westerly
Tuesday, October 25, 2016 – 6:00 PM - Newport Public Library, 300 Spring St., Newport
On July 21, Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea announced the purchase of 590 new voting machines manufactured by Nebraska-based Elections Systems and Software to replace the previous machines that date back to 1997. Additionally, city and town boards of canvassers will receive ballot on-demand printers that will not only ensure that there is never a shortage of ballots at any polling place, while reducing waste associated with printing too many ballots. For more information about this year's elections, visit sos.ri.gov or call (401) 222-2340.
Media contact: Nicole Lagace nlagace@sos.ri.gov (401) 330-3180