PROVIDENCE, RI - Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is reminding registered voters to visit vote.ri.gov by Thursday, June 14 and check their party affiliation. June 14 is the party disaffiliation deadline for the September 12 primary.
"I want to make sure that every registered voter has the opportunity to vote in the September primary of their choice," Secretary Gorbea said. "I encourage all eligible Rhode Island voters to visit vote.ri.gov to make sure their voter information is up to date."
Rhode Island has a semi-closed primary, which allows unaffiliated voters to vote in either party primary being held on Wednesday, September 12. Registered Republican and Democrat voters can vote only in their own party's primary.
Voters looking to disaffiliate from a party or change their party affiliation must do so before the June 14 deadline. This update can be done online using the Department of State's Voter Information Center at vote.ri.gov. Voters can also change their party affiliation by downloading a voter registration form and either mailing or delivering it to the local board of canvassers where they are registered. The forms must be received by 4 p.m. on June 14.
Unaffiliated voters who participated in the 2016 primary are especially encouraged to make sure their party affiliation is correct ahead of the June 14 deadline.
"Sometimes, voters who voted in a primary but want to stay unaffiliated, forget to disaffiliate as they exit the polling place," Secretary Gorbea said. "We can avoid problems on primary day if everyone checks their voter registration before June 14."
For more information about the September primaries or questions related to elections and voting in Rhode Island, please visit the Rhode Island Department of State's Elections Division online at sos.ri.gov/elections, call (401) 222-2340 or email elections@sos.ri.gov.
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