Secretary Gorbea sends postcards urging eligible Rhode Islanders to register to vote

PROVIDENCE, RI – Eligible Rhode Islanders who have not registered to vote yet will
receive a postcard this week from Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea urging them to
register so they can vote in elections this fall. The postcards provide information
to Rhode Islanders on how to check their voter registration status using the state’s
new online voter registration portal at
vote.ri.gov. It also provides eligibility
requirements, voter registration deadlines, and instructions for the September
Primary and November General elections.

“I urge Rhode Islanders who receive this postcard from the Rhode Island Department
of State to use their cell phone, computer or tablet to go online and register to
vote,” Secretary Gorbea said. “We have only a few more days to the August 14
deadline to be registered for the September 13 primary election. Our online voter
registration makes it easy for eligible voters to take an active part in our
democracy this election season.”

The postcard mailing is part of Rhode Island’s membership with the Electronic
Registration Information Center (ERIC), a non-profit organization whose mission is
“assisting states to improve the accuracy of America’s voter rolls and increase
access to voter registration to eligible citizens.” The organization currently has
21 member states that share voter registration information in an effort to improve
the accuracy of local voter rolls by eliminating duplicate, deceased, and
out-of-state voting records. All ERIC member states agree to reach out to
potentially eligible but unregistered citizens before federal general elections.

The postcard mailing, paid in part by a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts, is
being sent to nearly 196,000 eligible voters as part of the overall effort to make
sure Rhode Island’s voter rolls are up to date ahead of the elections this fall. In
addition, the Rhode Island Department of State has already identified about 1,500
deceased voters to be removed from Rhode Island voter rolls as part of its
membership with ERIC, and is working with cities and towns to identify duplicate
voter records.

Recipients who believe they received the postcard in error are encouraged to check
their voter record online at vote.ri.gov.
Recipients who have further questions about their voter record should also call the
Elections Division at the Rhode Island Department of State at
401.222.2340.

The voter registration deadline to vote in the September 13 Primary elections is
Sunday, August 14. The voter registration deadline to vote in the November General
election is Sunday, October 9. Rhode Islanders can now register to vote online at
vote.ri.gov or visit their local board of
canvassers to submit a paper form. For more information about this year’s elections,
visit sos.ri.gov or call (401)
222-2340.