PROVIDENCE, RI – Eligible Rhode Islanders who have not registered to vote yet will receive a postcard this week from Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea urging them to register so they can vote in elections this fall. The postcards provide information to Rhode Islanders on how to check their voter registration status using the state's new online voter registration portal at vote.ri.gov . It also provides eligibility requirements, voter registration deadlines, and instructions for the September Primary and November General elections.
"I urge Rhode Islanders who receive this postcard from the Rhode Island Department of State to use their cell phone, computer or tablet to go online and register to vote," Secretary Gorbea said. "We have only a few more days to the August 14 deadline to be registered for the September 13 primary election. Our online voter registration makes it easy for eligible voters to take an active part in our democracy this election season."
The postcard mailing is part of Rhode Island's membership with the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a non-profit organization whose mission is "assisting states to improve the accuracy of America's voter rolls and increase access to voter registration to eligible citizens." The organization currently has 21 member states that share voter registration information in an effort to improve the accuracy of local voter rolls by eliminating duplicate, deceased, and out-of-state voting records. All ERIC member states agree to reach out to potentially eligible but unregistered citizens before federal general elections.
The postcard mailing, paid in part by a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts, is being sent to nearly 196,000 eligible voters as part of the overall effort to make sure Rhode Island's voter rolls are up to date ahead of the elections this fall. In addition, the Rhode Island Department of State has already identified about 1,500 deceased voters to be removed from Rhode Island voter rolls as part of its membership with ERIC, and is working with cities and towns to identify duplicate voter records.
Recipients who believe they received the postcard in error are encouraged to check their voter record online at vote.ri.gov. Recipients who have further questions about their voter record should also call the Elections Division at the Rhode Island Department of State at 401.222.2340.
The voter registration deadline to vote in the September 13 Primary elections is Sunday, August 14. The voter registration deadline to vote in the November General election is Sunday, October 9. Rhode Islanders can now register to vote online at vote.ri.gov or visit their local board of canvassers to submit a paper form. For more information about this year's elections, visit vote.ri.gov or call (401) 222-2340.
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Media contact:
Nicole Lagace
nlagace@sos.ri.gov
(401) 330-3180