elections

Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea says her office is making progress on security and public access to voting. The state is working with the Department of Homeland Security to protect against hacking of voter systems. Rhode Island has also adopted new technology meant to streamline voting and guard voter information.

Gorbea says the need to protect voting systems now the norm in the U.S. and Rhode Island.

“Cybersecurity is not a destination, but a continually evolving road that requires constant attention to mitigate risk,” said Gorbea.

The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity was set up to investigate President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that millions of people committed voter fraud during the 2016 election.

Two polling precinct areas in Rhode Island will be part of the federal Department Of Justice’s effort to enforce voting rights laws. The agency plans to deploy some 500 workers in 28 states across the U.S. to make sure elections are run fairly. Federal workers are set to monitor polls in Providence and Pawtucket.

The monitors are tasked with helping protect against fraud, as well as incidents of voter harassment or intimidation.

State leaders are touting their support for a $27 million bond for the construction of a new state veteran’s home. The Bristol home will serve more than 200 elderly veterans.

Voters approved a$ 94 million bond for the home in 2012, but costs swelled as the state worked to comply with federal guidelines. If the bond is approved, the state will spend less money than originally budgeted for the project, due to federal matching funds.

State department of Veterans Affairs spokesman Michael Jolin said the new home will provide both medical care and shelter.

Nearly 30,000 Rhode Islanders have applied to vote by mail in the presidential election, up from roughly 23,000 in 2012. Those numbers from the office of Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea. Mail-in ballots are counted on Election Night. Gorbea says local boards of canvassers help to guard against vote fraud.

“The mail ballot comes in and is reviewed by the local boards of canvassers and if there are any kinds of discrepancies that seem to trigger a concern, they’re taken up by the state Board of Elections,” said Gorbea.

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea has unveiled legislation aimed at reforming Rhode Island’s voting laws. Gorbea promised to modernize the voting system during her campaign.

The proposed legislation brings online voter registration to Rhode Island. Residents would enter a database that can be updated when people move out of town or out of state. Gorbea said that would reduce redundancies in the voter rolls.

Developer Joe Paolino says he’ll try again to bring table games to Newport. Voters approved turn the Newport Grand slot parlor into a casino, but Newporters voted it down. 

Massachusetts voters gave gambling there a thumbs up. And that will hurt the slot parlor, said Paolino “You know right now I’m more concerned about the workers, because the workers are the ones that really put up this fight, they’re very concerned about their jobs.”

Proponents pushed the jobs angle; while opponents said a casino didn’t fit in Newport.