Politics & Government

RI Presidential Primary Today

Rhode Island is holding its Presidential Preference Primary today; vote at three polling places; 7 Barrington residents are vying to be Democratic or Republican party delegates.

Rhode Island's Presidential Preference Primary is today. The two ballots also list 50 candidates for Democratic and Republican delegates to the national conventions, including seven candidates from Barrington.

Peter Costa Jr. and Giovanni Cicione are on the Republican ballot as delegates for Romney.

Shirley Applegate-Lockridge is on the GOP ballot as a delegate for Rick Santorum, even though he has dropped out of the race.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Donald Nessing is on the Republican ballot as a delegate for Newt Gingrich.

On the Democratic ballot, Town Council President June Speakman, Anne Connor, and Mary Alyce Gasbarro are delegates for Obama.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's a quick run-down of today's primary:

Where do I vote?

Three polling places are open in Barrington:

  • Voting Districts 66-1, 66-2 & 66-3: Sowams School (replaces Primrose Hill as a poll for this election)
  • Voting Districts 66-4, 66-5 & 66-6: Barrington Middle School
  • Voting Districts 67-7 & 67-8: Barrington Senior Center in the lower level of the public library.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Ralph Mollis's office mantains a Voter Information Center polling place search web site, where voters can find where to vote.

What's the deal?

A primary is one state's vote for candidates who are running for president, before the November general election. It's also a vote for delegates to their respective parties' conventions, where the final slate of candidates for president is selected.

In Rhode Island, unaffiliated voters may vote on either party's primary ballot. Voters who have a party affiliation must vote in that party's primary.

Who's running?

As a Democrat, President Barack Obama runs unopposed.

Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul remain the three active candidates in the GOP field after former Sen. Rick Santorum's decision to drop out of the Republican race — although his name and delegates still appear on the Rhode Island ballot.

Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III, who withdrew from the Republican race, is still running a campaign to earn the Americans Elect and Reform Party nominations.

Each candidate also has a slate of delegates to be chosen.

What about Voter ID?

This year, all Rhode Island voters will be required to show a valid photo ID prior to voting, which include driver's licenses, passports, school identification cards, and RIPTA bus passes, among others, according to the Secretary of State's Voter ID web page.

Voters who do not have an ID can fill out a provisional ballot, which will be checked against their signature on their voting application (on file with the town's board of canvassers). If the signatures match, the provisional ballot will be considered vaild.

If you'd like to get a Rhode Island Voter ID card, .

Where can I get more information?

Mollis's office has also released a Presidential Preference Primary Guide, which explains the vote today and other information about voting and deadlines for candidacy and disaffiliation.

Contact the Secretary of State's office at (401) 222-2340, or visit sos.ri.gov


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