Rhode Island Shifts Primary to September 9

PROVIDENCE, R.I. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation this week shifting the state's primary elections from Tuesday, September 8, to Wednesday, September 9, to avoid logistical challenges posed by the Labor Day holiday weekend.

The change addresses concerns raised by state and local election officials about the tight timeline for preparing polling sites. September 8 falls immediately after Labor Day, complicating setup efforts across the state. Officials noted that many of the more than 400 polling locations, including schools, social halls and churches, would be difficult to access and prepare on a holiday. Nick Lima, registrar and director of elections for the city of Cranston, highlighted the issue during a January legislative hearing. "We have to set up over 400 polling places around the state on the day before the election," Lima said. "That's very difficult to do on a holiday because many of our polls are schools, social halls and churches."

Under the new law, candidate filing deadlines will remain unchanged, preserving the original schedule for those seeking office. The adjustment aims to ensure smoother operations without disrupting the electoral process....