New voter ID laws and where to find your polling place - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

New voter ID laws and where to find your polling place

By News Staff

news@abc6.com

WHAT IS VOTER ID

Tuesday's presidential primary will be the biggest test yet of Rhode Island's new Voter ID law. Beginning this year, poll workers will ask voters to show a valid ID when they vote at their polling place. A wide range of common IDs will be accepted including a RI driver's license, college ID, U.S. passport, RIPTA bus pass or Social Security card.

WHY DO WE NEED VOTER ID

The perception that identity theft could occur at the polls weakens the public's faith in the integrity of our elections. Voting should be at least as secure as everyday tasks like renting a car or getting a library card that routinely require ID.

IF DON'T HAVE AN ID, WILL I LOSE MY VOTE

No one will lose the right to vote. Eligible voters who do not bring an acceptable ID to the polls can vote using a standard Provisional Ballot. If the signature they give at their polling place matches the signature on their voter registration, their ballot will be counted.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VOTER ID

Visit our web site at sos.ri.gov.

WHO CAN VOTE IN TUESDAY's PRIMARIES?

All registered Democrats, some registered Republicans and all unaffiliated voters. Unaffiliated voters who vote in a party primary must disaffiliate on the way out if they want to remain "Independents." Neither the Moderate Party nor Americans Elect will have primaries.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR VOTERS ON TUESDAY?

It is very likely you will have a different polling place than the last time you voted. Just 135 polling places were open for the Presidential Primary. Four-hundred will be open on Tuesday. Use the Voter Information Center on our web site at sos.ri.com to find your polling place, check the accuracy of your voter registration record, find out when your polling place opens and see a sample ballot.

Make a note. Thanks to a recent change in state law, polls will close at 8 p.m. So anyone who is used to voting as late as 9 p.m. should plan accordingly.

Here is a link for more information on the voter ID law http://sos.ri.gov/elections/voterid/

Here is a link to where you can find your polling place https://sos.ri.gov/vic/.