Warwick 2020 Primary: Voters, Poll Workers Masked, Careful

WARWICK, RI — Tables, voting booths and lines were socially distanced among masked voters using stylus-pens to sign in and vote  during the 2020 statewide primary Tuesday, but otherwise voting seemed unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think it’s relatively low,” said Councilman Jeremy Rix of turnout at the Pilgrim Senior Center, one of 10 polling places open for RI’s 2020 statewide primary.

Rix was holding signs supporting Mayor Joseph J. Solomon, facing primary challenger Carel Callahan Bainum in the Democratic primary.

Councilman Stephen McAllister said he and Councilman Timothy Howe had been touring the polling places throughout the day and noticed a steady turnout at many locations. At Greenwood School, he said there was a steady turnout, and Cedar Hill School seemed very busy when he stopped there. Toll Gate High School was a little slower, he said.

Inside Pilgrim Senior Center at about 3 p.m., Kim, a polling clerk, said the number of people showing up to vote seemed slightly slow.

“I would say on the slow side of steady,” she said. A count of votes made as of that afternoon stood at 309.

Besides the masks and other health precautions, the day seemed like a normal voting day in Warwick, said Moderator Phil Page. Also, he said, “Everyone’s been very courteous.”