Projo Politics Blog

One week from today, more than half a million Rhode Islanders could flood the polls, breaking all previous voting records.

And that could spell big problems.

To help disperse the expected crowds and ward off potential snags, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis today announced a readiness plan that includes printing hundreds of thousands of extra ballots, opening almost 550 polls across the state and making sure voters are ready for Election Day.

In the next week, the state will run more than 1,200 television, radio and internet spots reminding voters that their polling place might have changed.

Set to a sweeping score with Mollis as the narrator, the segments will encourage residents to visit the voter information center Website or call a voter help line at (401) 222-2340 to find out where to vote and get more information about the ballot questions.

Paid for through a federal grant, the ads will also remind voters to hit the polls at off-peak hours to avoid the long lines that can happen from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

"We're here to make sure that Rhode Islanders are prepared ... so their experience on Tuesday, Nov 4th will be a good one, a smooth one and an exciting one," Mollis said yesterday.

Rhode Island's highest recorded turnout was in 1992 when more than 450,000 people cast ballots. Tuesday's turnout is expected to smash that record. Almost nine out of 10 adults -- more than 700,000 -- in this state are currently registered to vote and the Mollis expects more than 70 percent of them at the polls.

A provision in Rhode Island law allows some residents who missed the registration deadline the right to cast a vote for president which could bring in another 10,000 voters.

Voters who discover they might not be available on Election day may also cast an emergency ballot at their city or town hall between now and Tuesday.

The government watchdog group Common Cause believes glitches are unavoidable when thousands of voters inundate the polls. The September primary day was rife with problems ranging from lost ballots to polling places that were never counted.

But Mollis and Board of Elections executive director Robert Kando say they are prepared, no matter what the turnout.

"We have made it easy for people to exercise this privilege and their right to vote and we are urging them to get as much information as they can in preparation for this exciting day," Mollis said.

 Tags  ballots board of elections polls Rhode Island secretary of state voter turnout

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