PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The votes of hundreds of thousands of unaffiliated Rhode Island voters are up for grabs in the state’s presidential primary.
Of the five states holding a primary Tuesday, it’s the only one where independent voters can select either the Democratic or Republican ballot. Half of Rhode Island’s registered voters don’t belong to either party.
Most polls opened at 7 a.m. and are scheduled to close at 8 p.m.
The state will have one-third fewer polls open than it does during a general election.
Pawtucket Registrar Ken McGill says he expects his city’s turnout to be nearly as high as the 35 percent who participated in the 2008 primary.
Most of the leading candidates campaigned in the state in recent days.
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Delaware also are holding primaries Tuesday
