Voting In Portsmouth: Polls Open

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Tuesday is Election Day in Rhode Island and across the country. Voters who did not cast their ballots early in person or by mail can cast their ballot at their polling place during the day. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a surge in mail-in ballots, the results of the presidential and local elections are not expected on Tuesday, and could take days or weeks to determine.

The polls open are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Rhode Island.

The deadline to register to vote and request a mail ballot have passed in Rhode Island. To check your voting status, visit the Secretary of State's elections website. There, voters can also find their polling place, or check the status of their mail ballot.

Voters who requested a mail ballots but have not yet returned it must do so by 8 p.m. on Tuesday to have it counted. Mail ballots can be dropped into a secure election drop box, located across the state.

Find a list of dropboxes here.

When voting at the polls on Tuesday, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind for a safe voting experience.

• Bring a valid photo ID. Voters who do not have an acceptable form of ID will be given a provisional ballot.
• Wear a fabric face covering. The Rhode Island Department of Health is asking Rhode Islanders to make mask wearing "the norm" to cut down on the transmission of coronavirus in the state.
• Don't touch your face while at the polling location.
• Maintain a social distance of at least six feet from anyone who is not from your household.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after voting.
• Bring a pen, such as a blue or black ink sharpie or Paper Mate Flair, if you do not want to borrow one.

There are 12 local ballot questions in Portsmouth, listed below.

• Question two: Amendment to the town charter to correct a grammatical error and have town council candidates listed on the ballot based on a random drawing.
• Question three: Amendment to the town charter that would make the vice president of the town council the presiding officer at meetings is the president is absent.
• Question four: Amendment to the town charter to clarify the process by which the town council can appoint people to committees, and to allow the council to approve the emergency management plan.
• Question five: Amendment to the town charter that would require the provisional budget be posted on the town's website.
• Question six: Amendment to the town charter that would require the fire chief to have at least 10 years of firefighting experience.
• Question seven: Amendment to the town charter to change "salary" to "compensation."
• Question eight: Amendment to the town charter to make language gender-neutral and to clarify how the school committee clerk is selected.
• Question nine: Amendment to the town charter that would give the school committee the power to appoint the superintendent by a majority vote.
• Question 10: Amendment to the town charter to clarify the process by which school employees are hired or dismissed.
• Question 11: Amendment to the town charter to make it consistent with Rhode Island's public records laws.
• Question 12: Amendment to the town charter to make it consistent with the state's laws about conflicts of interest and code of ethics.
• Question 13: Amendment to the town charter to remove the words "including School Department employee unions," per state law.