What To Know About the March 2 Special Election In Newport

NEWPORT, RI — The City of Newport is getting ready for Rhode Island's special election on March 2. As was the case in the previous elections, voters have three options to cast their ballot: by mail, early in person or at their polling place on Election Day.

All active registered voters should receive a mail ballot application in their mailbox sometime next week, from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea's office. Voters can track the status of their mail ballot or application on the secretary's website.

Newport-specific information about voting, as well as descriptions of the seven referenda questions, are available on the city's website.

Early voting is available in the city from Feb. 10 to March 1 at City Hall. There will be three polling places on Election Day: Fenner Hall, the Newport Public Library and the Parkholm Senior Center. Voting will not be available at City Hall on March 2, but voters will have the choice to select the polling place that is most convenient to them.

The city was awarded a $4,500 grant from the Secretary of State's office to help offset the costs of the special election.

Read More: What To Know About Rhode Island's March 2 Special Election

Key Dates

• Jan. 31: Voter registration deadline
• Feb. 9: Mail ballot application deadline
• Feb. 10: Start of early, in-person voting
• March 1: Early, in-person voting ends at 4 p.m.
• March 2: Election Day, polls open

The seven state bond questions are explained below. Total costs are estimates based on 20-year loans and an interest rate of 5 percent.

Question 1: Higher Education Facilities

• $107.3 million for higher education, including $57.3 million for a fine arts center at URI, $38 million for the Clarke Science Building at RIC and $12 million to renovate CCRI's campuses.
• Principal: $107,300,000
• Interest: $64,900,592
• Total cost: $172,200,592

Question 2: Beach, Clean Water and Green Bond

• $74 million for environment and recreational projects, a total of $10 million over the governor's original proposal.
• Principal: $74,000,000
• Interest: $44,759,029
• Total cost: $118,759,029

Question 3: Housing and Community Opportunity

• $65 million for affordable housing, an increase of $40 million over the original proposal, included in the amendment offered by the governor in July.
• Principal: $65,000,000
• Interest: $39,315,363
• Total cost: $104,315,363

Question 4: Transportation Infrastructure State Match

• $71.7 million for transportation initiatives
• Principal: $71,700,000
• Interest: $43,367,870
• Total cost: $115,067,870

Question 5: Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund

• $15 million for early childhood care and the educational capital fund
• Principal: $15,000,000
• Interest: $9,072,776
• Total cost: $24,072,776

Question 6: Cultural Arts and the Economy Grant Program and State Preservation Grants Program

• $7 million for arts and cultural infrastructure, including $6 million for the cultural arts and economy grant program, and $1 million for the state preservation grants program.
• Principal: $7,000,000
• Interest: $4,233,962
• Total cost: $11,233,962

Question 7: Industrial Facilities Infrastructure

• $60 million for commerce infrastructure, including $20 million for the Port of Davisville at Quonset and $40 million for industrial site development.
• Principal: $60,000,000
• Interest: $36,291,105
• Total cost: $$96,291,105

Total borrowing costs

• Principal: $400,000,000
• Interest: $241,940,697
• Total cost: $641,940,69