Primary Tuesday: Warwick Races Narrow

WARWICK, RI — A Democratic City Council Ward 7 race and non-partisan School Committee race will narrow general election contenders in the statewide primary Tueday, the first granting independent voters automatic disaffiliation.

This is the first election during which legislation introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry) and Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich) allowing independent voters an auto primary disaffiliation option, passed by the General Assembly in June, takes effect. Starting with this primary, disaffiliation is automatic for all independent voters, solving some long-standing issues for voters.

Previously, when a voter who was not affiliated with any political party chose to vote in a party primary, that voter was automatically registered as being affiliated with that party. Those voters could choose to disaffiliate immediately by filling out a form, an imperfect solution. Voters often forgot to take that additional step.

Now, that disaffiliation is automatic for all independent voters.

The new process also solves a growing problem of those who vote in primary elections through the use of mail ballots. While those who vote in person could sign a disaffiliation form at the polls, those who mail in their ballots received no such form and were sometimes surprised to find later that they now have a party affiliation.

Warwick Primary Tuesday Races

City Council Ward 7 Tuesday’s primary pits three democrat candidates against the other to be the City Council Ward 7 nominee who faces off against two independent candidates in the Nov. 5 general election. The three Ward 7 primary contenders are Jackie Anderson, Jack Kirby and Stephen M. Mulcahey, profiled briefly Aug. 20 by WarwickPost.com.

Warwick School Committee The Sept. 10 primary features five candidates, the top four of whom will go on to compete for two at-large seats on the Warwick School Committee. Candidates hoping to make it to the Nov. 5 ballot include incumbents David Testa and Karen Bachus, along with challengers Zach Colon, Sean P. Wiggins, and Anthony G. Corrente, profiled briefly by WarwickPost.com last week. The four School Committee race candidates with the most votes will progress to the General Election, vying for the two seats that open when the incumbents’ terms end.

Primary Tuesday Polling Hours & Places

All polling places in the state open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. for the primary Tuesday, with the exception of New Shoreham, which opens at 9 a.m.

You will be allowed to cast your vote if you are in line at your polling location by 8 p.m.

The city of Warwick has listed polling places by precinct on the Board of Canvassers website.

Primary Tuesday: Early Voting Monday

You can vote in person at your city or town hall or at a designated location during regular business hours. This is a great option if you are unable to vote at your usual polling place on Election Day, or if you have run out of time to request a mail ballot, according to the RI Secretary of State.  View voting locations and hours in your community. and check here for Monday’s  early voting hours.

You will be asked to show a valid photo ID. If you do not bring an acceptable photo ID when voting in person, you will vote an emergency mail ballot. For a complete list of acceptable photo IDs download this informational flyer.