Projo Politics Blog

Lincoln voters sent two messages in the town’s nonbinding special election earlier in the month.

Aside from telling state lawmakers they opposed plans to expand gambling operations at Twin River, the residents also registered strong support for Saturday elections.

Turnout for the election — believed to be the only Saturday contest in state history — was considered very strong, especially for a nonelection-year nonbinding referendum. Almost 20 percent of the town’s registered voters showed up.

Volunteers from the secretary of state’s office conducted exit interviews at Lincoln’s four polling places that produced widespread support for weekend elections.

All together, 95 percent of voters asked said they liked Saturday voting. The most common reason was that they didn’t have to leave work for the election — usually held Tuesdays; the second most popular reason was that it was generally “more convenient,” according to secretary of state spokesman Chris Barnett.

In all, 733 voters participated in the exit polling; 546 liked Saturday voting; 27 disliked Saturday voting; 160 had no opinion.

Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis told Political Scene that he would introduce a bill in the coming legislative session to open polls Tuesdays and Saturdays.

“Our goal is to make it easier to vote. If this will make people more likely to vote, it’s something we need to do,” Mollis said. “This legislation’s time has come and I look forward to introducing it.”

There are two potential obstacles, Mollis said, that his office is studying. The first is cost — he could not immediately provide estimates; the second is “ensuring the integrity of the election — the safety of the ballots from Tuesday to Saturday.”

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