Low turnout expected for Rhode Island’s presidential primary

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Tuesday is the presidential primary election in Rhode Island, although President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have already been declared as the presumptive nominees for their respective parties.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore said his office is expecting a low turnout for Tuesday’s primary, lower than 20%, which the state saw in the special Congressional District One election last year.

“Because the results are already in, we know who the nominees are going to be for the Democratic and Republican parties,” Amore said. “So we understand that there’s not excitement around this primary.”

However, there may be voters who show up to the polls to simply send a message with their ballots by voting uncommitted to protest vote against the Biden administration’s policy as it relates to Israel and the war on the Gaza Strip.

“It’s a chance for people to express themselves, and that’s what voting is,” Amore explained. “It’s a First Amendment right to express yourself in the form of a vote, and if you’re unhappy with the President for whatever reason, you can say that and still vote for the President in the General Election but send the message that we’re not entirely happy.”

“I think traditionally across the board, Democrats understand there’s a stark difference between the two candidates, and they’re going to support President Biden,” Amore added.

Rhode Islanders will also be able to pick delegates that will head to the parties’ national conventions this summer to represent the voters.

“So those names are there, and that’s still worth the vote,” Amore said. “Because there’s a list of delegates that does not match up with the number of delegates that are required to go, so there’s an election there.”

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. across Rhode Island, with the exception of Block Island, which opens at noon.

To find you polling location, go to vote.ri.gov.