(9.25) Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea invites the public to join her at the State Archives this Tuesday to get registered and to see the new exhibition, “I Voted: 380 Years of Voting in Rhode Island.” The exhibit highlights the different ways Rhode Islanders have cast their ballots from colonial times to today.
Seen here is the McTammany Voting Machine.
First used in the election of 1900, mechanical defects made voting returns inaccurate, and their use was subsequently banned in March of 1901. Use was authorized again in 1906 and repealed in 1921.
I had hoped to see one of the Shoup Voting Machines with the lever and the curtain and all, but the room is not large and it would have been a bit of a schlep.
The Elections Division will also be on-site Tuesday to register individuals to vote, update voter registrations, and give out information about the November 6 general election.
Go to the Voter Information Center to view or change your voter information, find your polling place, or go and register to vote online right now.
Validated parking at In Town Parking, across the street from the archives building. And take a good look at the facade of that building! Simply gorgeous terracotta details.
Free and open to the public, 4:30pm to 6:30pm, Tuesday, September 25, RI State Archives, 337 Westminster Street, (directions)
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Clearly Socialists have not always been relegated to the fringe of Rhode Island politics, although in the McTammany machine listings the Prohibition Party seems to have taken precedence. (Worst parties ever.)
You can register to VOTE at the home of a Signer of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday October 6th from 10:30 AM to 3:30PM. The Stephen Hopkins House will host volunteers from the League of Women Voters, registering Rhode Islanders as young as age 16! They can make changes to marital status & address for those already registered too. Take a free tour of a Founding Father’s 40-year home, and sign up to be an active member of the democracy he helped to create — no agenda, no issues, no taking sides — just take part!
Museum open for tours on Saturday from 10AM to 4PM