PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island Board of Elections says it’s prepared to handle at least 30 percent voter turnout in the state’s presidential primary even though some voter advocates say there are not enough polling places.
Elections Director Robert Rapoza said Thursday the decision to open just 144 of the state’s 419 polling places for Tuesday’s primary was made in January. He says it’s been common practice to open fewer polling places during primaries because fewer voters participate.
Open government advocate John Marion says voters could be confused because their polling place is likely to be different from where they voted in recent statewide races.
He says presidential primaries are typically settled by the time Rhode Islanders participate but it’s hotly contested this year on both the Democratic and Republican sides.
