Bills S999 and H6312, sponsored by Senator Cynthia Coyne (District 32) and Representative Kathleen Fogarty (District 35), gives the Secretary of State the power to purchase new voting equipment, a duty that was formerly carried out by the Board of Elections.

“Back in 1997, when the last purchasing bill was done, it was set up so that it would revert over to the Board of Elections,” Secretary Gorbea explained. “So, for the last 17 years that’s where it had rested, and the legislature, in this past session, saw fit to turn that around. Now, of course, the Board of Elections is an instrumental part of this, and is working with us on this process.”

She added that voting equipment is part of a democracy’s infrastructure, and that citizens in a democracy depend on that equipment to “deliver fair, fast, and accurate elections.”

Gorbea has ordered the creation of a Voting Equipment Task Force, to inform the Department of State’s process of researching and buying new equipment, which has not been updated since 1997. John Marion, the executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, is a member of the task force, said the Board of Elections was not moving into the 21^st century fast enough when it came to voting infrastructure, so the new legislation is a good way to move forward, even though it may be less transparent.

“The Board of Elections process could have been more transparent, because in the end the Board would have to vote in a public session on the purchase of the new machines, and now the Secretary can make the decision. The Secretary is not a board that has to have a public session,” he said. “But, fortunately, the Secretary convened a task force, to give input, and it’s a very expansive task force that brings in a lot of different people in the community. So, I think she is being as transparent as she can be, given the circumstances.”

Marion also said that the task force will be looking at what other states have done to influence how they will go about acquiring new equipment. Common Cause as a whole, he said, is also interested in making voting more accessible to Rhode Islanders. Senator Coyne shared that sentiment.

“The signing of this legislation is crucial to not only ensuring our elections are fair and accurate, but also to bringing the state’s voting machines into the 21^st century,” she said. “In addition, modern equipment will make the voting process easier for Rhode Islanders, which will hopefully result in more people becoming involved in the democratic process.”

Governor Raimondo added that the main goal is to ensure that government works for everybody.

“This is a bill that I supported. I think the Secretary of State will do a good job. It will be efficient, and as I mentioned in my comments, really performance based. We want to make government effective and efficient, and the best use of tax dollars, and I think this does that,” she said.

An interesting side note about this bill that was mentioned at the signing is the fact that all the main stakeholders in its passage are women. Representative Fogarty, of South Kingstown, said that this proves that women create good legislation, which leads to good government.

“It was not something that was planned,” Gorbea said on the subject. “It was just something that happened organically, and I was pleased to see it happen.”

“I don’t want everyone to vote that’s not well informed on the issues,” said House Minority Whip Joseph Trillo (R- District 24). “So I don’t want to register everybody just because I want bodies to go into a voting booth and vote. You Democrats don’t care about that! You’ll take them by the thousands! As long as they can breathe, walk, take them into the voting booth!”

“An uninformed voter is a manipulated voter,” he added.

Trillo’s concern, as did many others, stemmed from possible voter fraud using an electronic system. The legislation would operate using one’s existing driver’s license or state identification card, which already has their signature on it. Those eligible would be able to register because their signature would already be on file at the DMV, making it easier for them to be verified by the Secretary of State. Their local board of canvassers would then notify them that their registration has been confirmed.

Language in the bill that states that the Secretary of State’s office “may” verify a registrant sparked the debate. Many opponents believed that the Secretary’s office should be required to verify everyone who registers to vote, but those who supported the bill stated that not only is it an undue burden on administration, it is unnecessary because of the cross-referencing done by the board of canvassers. Representative Stephen Ucci (D- District 42), stated that the verification is normally only used to analyze voter trends that may be suspicious.

“You have to look into this in the totality of our voting system,” Ucci said. “Let’s join those other 20 something states that have done this, and get ourselves on the right path to getting people to vote.”

“A person is still required to have a state license or state ID, which you don’t need in person,” Representative Aaron Regunberg (D- District 4), who is the main sponsor of the bill, added. “The system has existed in dozens of states, registering millions of voters, and there has not been a recorded successful incident of fraud.”

Other key points in the debate included accessibility to registration, as well as modernizing Rhode Island’s system. Many spoke about how there are people who do not have the time to go to their town or city hall to register, because they are working during office hours. Going online to vote, rather than paying for an envelope and stamp to mail in registration, is free, making the process more accessible to low-income voters. Putting the process online and making it easier would, in their eyes, serve as an incentive to both register and vote.

Regunberg’s legislation also includes a provision that would enroll Rhode Island in agreements with other states that would allow them to reference data in order to update voter rolls, either registering people who have recently moved into the state, or expunging those who have moved or died.

The bill passed with overwhelming support, in a 63-10 vote. In an interview after the meeting, Regunberg said he was very excited that the legislation passed, especially because it will be one of many solutions to get people out and voting.

“There’s a whole bunch of things, I think this is one part of it that will absolutely, for a generation of people who are much more used to doing these things online, who don’t really use snail mail, who don’t really understand those more antiquated systems. I think it will make it more accessible. It makes it more convenient for everyone,” he said.

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, who helped to craft the bill, provided a statement about its passage as well:

“This legislation will make it easier for citizens to register to vote and update their voter information, and it will improve the accuracy and integrity of Rhode Island’s voter rolls. I thank Speaker Mattiello, the bill’s sponsors, Representatives Regunberg, Handy, Keable, Blazejewski, and Barros; and the entire House of Representatives for their support of this legislation.”

John Marion, the Executive Director of Common Cause RI, was also involved in the bill’s drafting process, and stated that this is a huge step forward for Rhode Island, not only in terms of modernization, but also in terms of system management, and accessibility. As far as systems management is concerned, the electronic process makes everyone’s jobs easier and more cost effective. In some states, the cost per voter has gone down to less than ten cents per registration. But to Marion, those benefits are only secondary.

“The real benefit is to the voters. This is going to allow people easier access to registration, and not just new registrants, but this has a lot to do with people who are moving and don’t want to change their registration,” he said. “Because this is not replacing the current paper based system, it’s a complement to that, it’s going to capture more people, ultimately.”

The right to vote is a key proponent in what makes the American government work. But, for many Americans, there are barriers to the expression of that right. U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI), has just introduced the Automatic Voter Registration Act (H.R. 2694), a bill that would help to break down many of those barriers, and make it easier for citizens across the country to place their ballot.

“Our democracy was founded on the principle that every citizen has the right to participate, and make their voices heard on election day,” Cicilline said in a press conference on Monday. “The right to vote is an essential part of making government work for the people it is intended to serve, but today, the right to vote is under attack by some who want to throw up new road blocks to voter participation.”

Those who are affected the most by voter suppression activities are low income and minority households. According to a Think Progress report, young people, African Americans, and Hispanics all have lower registration rates than the rest of the population. In Rhode Island, there are roughly 249,000 eligible voters who have information records at the Department of Motor Vehicles, but are not registered to vote, according to the Office of the Secretary of State.

Watch the press conference, video courtesy of Steve Ahlquist:

Cicilline’s act follows precedents set by state legislatures, most notably Oregon, and brings it to the national level. Rather than having to opt into being registered to vote, everyone will be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18 and will have a 21-day period in which they can opt out of being registered. Cicilline wants to change the current system because it makes the entry point for voting more accessible to everyone, and to make sure that more voices are heard in elections.

“It’s a significant improvement over the current system, which requires eligible voters to opt in, by registering before they’re allowed to vote. My bill reverses that presumption, and shifts the burden from the individual to the state, meaning that unless someone explicitly opts out of registering to vote, they will have the opportunity to participate on Election Day,” Cicilline said.

U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, and the Rhode Island chapter of the League of Women Voters Jane Koster all showed support for Cicilline’s bill. Gorbea brought the discussion down to the local level, speaking on why this bill would assist Rhode Islanders.

“As secretary of state, I am working hard to make sure all Rhode Islanders are engaged and empowered,” she said. “The way we do that is by making sure we make it easier for people to participate.”

Gorbea says the bill takes advantage of existing systems within the state, as well as technology that is readily available. Older systems and technologies, she said, keep Rhode Islanders from engaging in their civic duty far more often than it should. Gorbea is also trying to get two bills through the legislature that would provide quick and easy online voter registration as well as provide early voting opportunities, and clean up existing voter rolls.

“If we’re serious about turning our state around and creating opportunities for all Rhode Islanders, we have to ensuring that more Rhode Islanders are engaged and empowered,” she said.

“When something happens at the national level, and then you’re able to implement it, it quells the concerns of a lot of people. Why are we going to do this differently from somewhere else? We have to do this at the national level and at the local level, absolutely,” Gorbea added.

Although the demographics on the 249,000 Rhode Islanders who are eligible to vote but are not registered are not yet available, Langevin gave his own reasons as to why opting into voter registration could actually be keeping these people from actively registering.

“What I’ve found in my experience over the years, as to why people aren’t registered to vote, can fall into one of several categories. Two of the most pervasive, especially for a young person, is that one, they don’t know how to get registered to vote,” he said. “The other is that a family or an individual experienced some sort of major life change- change in job, change in neighborhood, moving to a new area, moving out of state. They come in and they’ve taken care of all the other things, and it may fall through the cracks.”

To that effect, Koster added that on average, an American moves 12 times within their lifetime, especially out of state. By making it easier to vote, states could make it easier to connect to those who are moving around often, and still give them the opportunity to participate. According to Gorbea, this would greatly reduce the “undue burden,” that is currently being thrust upon American citizens.

Don’t get me wrong, your vote matters. It seems as though these slippery serpents we call politicians will do and say anything to get that vote. However, once they have received your vote, anything they said or promised to you, the voter, that doesn’t coincide with their own agenda is long forgotten. The only things that matter now are fulfilling the promises made to organizations that financed the Golden Road to office.

So now who really has the power? You the voter go to that box on election day so that your voice may be heard. So that the things that matter most to you, your civil rights, your child’s education, health care, protection from criminals and corruption, and the like, are taken care of in a way that gives you comfort. That’s what you give your vote for! The problem is that your voice and your vote are not the same thing.

The organizations that give their money and influence to these politicians’ campaigns—they don’t do it for the sake of democracy. They do it to have their own needs and wants met. Unfortunately for you, the voter, their needs and wants don’t always synch up with your needs and wants. They’re satisfied, meanwhile you, the voter, well, your voice just gets lost.

• This post is published as part of the Prison Op/Ed Project, an occasional series authored by CCRI sociology students who are incarcerated at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute. Read more here:
  • ‘Prison Op/Ed Project’ teaches civic engagement, writing – Meghan Kallman
  • Does racial injustice still exist? Look at our schools – Aaron Carpenter
  • Rhode Island charges felons absurdly high court costs – Christopher Nemitz
  • Public school students and inmates need more vocational training – Darnell Hie
  • Prison policies put probation and vocational training at odds – Norman Johnson
  • Corporate-modeled prison industrial complex doesn’t serve society – Adrian Rojas
  • Incarceration is the new slavery – James Poston
  • Justice isn’t blind with data-based sentencing – David Brown
  • Ending welfare entitlements opened the door to disability fraud – Dan Davidson
  • Post prison services would stem system’s revolving door – Michael Wheelock

He was eligible to vote on Nov. 8 of that year – one day after the nation-changing, SCOTUS-decided election between Al Gore and George Bush. Both offices said he has had a consistent record of voting in general elections since 2000.

But, according to Block’s campaign website, that means he lived in Rhode Island for at least 8 years without registering to vote. His website says he moved to Barrington is 1992 and indicates he has lived in state since 1991. (I don’t know where Block lived prior to that, or if he voted and/or was registered to vote there)

Last week, GoLocalProv reported on what it called an “investigation” into Clay Pell’s voting record (For the record, if you call the Board of Elections, they will give you this information). Since then it has done two additional posts on Clay Pell with no evidence it has investigated other candidates as well.  Ken Block is a occasional GoLocal “mindsetter” and the right-leaning site highlights his news releases often.

If Block wishes to comment, I will update this post.

The historic ceremony will begin precisely at noon when the Kentish Guards in colonial military garb escort  the state’s four presidential electors, the state’s Congressional delegation and other dignitaries to the House Chamber, where the event will take place.

“This is the culmination of a year-long journey that sent Rhode Islanders to the polls in near-record numbers. The entire state can take pride in what they have achieved.”

Because seating in the House Chamber is limited, please RSVP to aralphmollis@sos.ri.gov or 222-4293. Capitol TV will televise the ceremony live on Channel 15 on Cox Cable and Full Channel and Channel 34 on Verizon. In addition, TV monitors will be set up in the State Room to accommodate anyone who cannot be seated in the House Chamber.

The process began in 2011, when we introduced legislation creating a regional presidential primary with Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut. The initiative brought Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and the Gingrich campaign to Rhode Island in the days before voters went to the polls last April. The end came when more than 446,000 votes were cast in last month’s election, the second highest turnout in state history.

Title 3, Chapter 1 of the U.S. Code outlines the Electoral College process. Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of representatives and senators it has in Congress. The Electoral College will meet in every state and the District of Columbia on Dec. 17 to cast ballots for president and vice president.

By federal law, electors representing the political party of the candidate who wins the popular vote for president in each state officially elect the president and vice president. Rhode Island’s Electors are state Rep.-elect Marvin L. Abney of Newport, Emily A. Maranjian of Providence, L. Susan Weiner of East Greenwich and Mark S. Weiner of East Greenwich.

The Rev. William L. Shaw of the Union Baptist Church in Pawtucket will provide the Invocation and the Martin Middle School choir of East Providence will perform the national anthem to open Rhode Island’s ceremony.

On Jan. 6, 2013, Vice President Biden will preside over a joint session of Congress. The ballots of the electors from each state will be opened in alphabetical order by state and read aloud to Congress.

If that had been the only day I could’ve gone to vote, that would’ve been it. I would’ve missed my window of opportunity, and never would’ve cast a vote in 2008. Luckily, the Tar Heel State, despite its weird nickname, had implemented early voting under a previous legislature (early voting has since been reduced under the Republican legislature elected in 2010). I went the next week and cast my vote in a reasonably long line.

There’s no sensible reason to hold Election Day just on a Tuesday (especially given it’s not a day off). And there’s no sensible reason elections can’t take place during a far longer period.

Good thing the Democratic Party chairman understands that. In fact, in a letter to the editor that ran in The Providence Journal, Chairman Edwin Pacheco lays out a pretty simple list of changes; some of them changes of the changes that were just made to voting procedure. Early voting is the first thing. Others include:

• Returning poll closing times to 9:00 PM rather than 8:00 PM.
• Returning poll locations to serving only 1900 voters rather than 3000.
• Review the Board of Elections.
• Allow the Secretary of State to nominate BoE board members and its executive director, or else allow the Secretary to serve as an ex-officio member.

If this is, as many observers suspect, an opening salvo in Mr. Pacheco’s run for Secretary of State, it’s a pretty good one. If the other Democratic candidates have policy offerings of this caliber, we might actually have a really great campaign about election issues leading up to Primary Day. And though it’s not exactly a make-or-break issue, how we manage and control our elections can be really important. Case in point, you used to have tear your ballot out of the newspaper, and it’d be colored in favor of one candidate or another, meaning everyone could see who you were voting for as you walked down the street.

Because many cities and towns had to move polling places due to redistricting, Mollis urges voters to confirm where they will vote ahead of time.

For hundreds of thousands of RI voters, Election Day will be their first encounter with Voter ID and all the new polling place locations created by redistricting.”

The election is also the next big test of the state’s new Voter ID law. Beginning this year, voters will be asked to show an ID when they vote at the polls. Poll workers will accept a wide range of common photo IDs including a R.I. driver’s license, state ID card, RIPTA bus pass, college ID, employee ID and Social Security or Medicare card.

Most importantly, no eligible voter will be denied the right to vote. Voters who do not bring an acceptable ID to the polls can vote using a standard Provisional Ballot. If the signature they give at their polling place matches the signature on their voter registration, their ballot will be counted.

Locally, polls will open at 7 a.m. and will now close at 8 p.m., which is an hour earlier than previous years. Any eligible voter in line when the doors close at 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.  Voters are allowed to bring a marked sample ballot or other material that will help them in the voting booth.

If your name is not on the voter registration list at the polling place and you believe that you are legally registered to vote in that precinct, you are eligible to vote a provisional ballot, which will be counted if elections officials determine that your claim is valid.

Residents of Rhode Island who missed the Oct. 7 deadline to register to vote can still cast a ballot on Election Day, but only for president and vice president. Residents of most communities must go to their city or town hall, but Providence residents should go to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Elections officials in Burrillville, East Greenwich and Little Compton also arranged alternative sites. Residents should contact their town hall to confirm the local location.

Although the deadline falls on a Sunday, our Elections Division at 148 West River St., Providence, will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for last-minute registrations. In addition, every city and town has also made local arrangements.

Not sure whether your voter registation is up to date. Use our Voter Information Center to check.

We are also teaming up with Cardi’s Furniture to give Rhode Islanders another last-minute option. We will set up shop at Cardi’s West Warwick store on Rt. 2 Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to register and re-register voters.

In order to register and vote on Election Day, you must be at least 18 years old by Nov. 6, a resident of Rhode Island and a U.S. citizen.

Rhode Islanders who cannot register in person by Sunday can download a voter registration form and mail the original, signed form to their local Board of Canvassers as long as it is postmarked by the postal service no later than Oct. 7.

If you don’t know Vlogbrothers, that’s unfortunate, but they do a number of cool things, such as this series called “Crash Course” and I’ll link you to their video on Capitalism and Socialism. Rhode Islanders will no doubt laugh about one of these, in light of the Tobon-San Bento race.

I know earlier this year I mentioned how I didn’t bother to vote in the Democratic primary for U.S. President because I thought it didn’t matter this time around (I’m still not convinced). But this pretty much demolishes a lot of the myths and falsities people have towards voting, and I think it’s useful.

Registration form to vote in Rhode Island. Need to be in by October 7th. So do yourself a favor and say “Friday”.

Form to request a mail ballot (which are due by October 16th). Automatic mail ballot application for “permanently disable or incapacitated voter[s]“.  Mail ballot request for the Central Falls special election.