Rhode Island’s presidential primary has been pushed back as the coronavirus outbreak forces the public to stay at home.
Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo reached the decision to delay the contest from April 28 to June 2 based on recommendations by the state’s Board of Elections, she said.
“Last week, the Board of Elections requested that the presidential primary election be postponed from April 28 to June 2 and that the election take place primarily by mail ballot. I am following the advice of the Board of Elections, and will sign an executive order to do this,” Raimondo tweeted Monday.
[Related: Strange and chaotic election day as coronavirus disrupts primaries]
Last week, the Board of Elections requested that the presidential primary election be postponed from April 28 to June 2 and that the election take place primarily by mail ballot. I am following the advice of the Board of Elections, and will sign an executive order to do this.
— Gina Raimondo (@GovRaimondo) March 23, 2020
Rhode Island’s Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea originally asked the board to keep the date but to conduct the contest mostly via mail. But she welcomed the decision on Monday, saying the extra time would “ensure that all eligible Rhode Islanders can cast a ballot in a safe and secure manner while protecting the integrity of every vote.”
Some in-person polling places will remain open so that voters with access issues can still take part, according to Gorbea.
States and territories such as Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Puerto Rico, and Ohio have already pushed back their elections, turning June 2 into the most important upcoming date on the primary calendar. While former Vice President Joe Biden is the presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee, he’s still short of the 1,991 delegates required to secure the nomination outright.
The next round of voting will be hosted by Alaska, Hawaii, and Wyoming on April 4.
