PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A proposal to allow early voting in Rhode Island elections is getting a boost from Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo and municipal clerks from towns and cities.
Raimondo is joining Democratic Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and a coalition of voting reform advocates Wednesday. They’re calling on lawmakers to pass legislation allowing in-person early voting.
More than 30 states allow voters to cast ballots at polling places in the days or weeks before Election Day. Pending legislation would create 20 days of early voting, though some clerks want a shorter period.
Early voting proponent John Marion of Common Cause Rhode Island says it’s been important to get the support of clerks, who endorsed early voting at a meeting last week.
Advocates are also pushing for automatic voter registration.
