Elections Are the Cornerstone of Democracy
Casting a ballot to elect federal, state, or municipal leaders, or to vote on referenda questions, is one of the most direct forms of civic participation. Those permitted to vote and when they were permitted, is a fascinating, complex story that reveals much about our country and its development.
How people voted offers equally compelling insights into the evolution of American democracy.
Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Scituate Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Scituate (March 24, 1788) by Rhode Island. General Assembly (1643-)Rhode Island State Archives
Votes of the Freeholders, Scituate, 1788
The earliest voting in Rhode Island was done in person, by voice or on hand-written ballots.
In 1664 the legislature provided for the first early, absentee votes, permitting the colony’s land-holding men to submit their written votes at a town meeting.
These signed ballots would be sent on to Newport to be counted on election day.
Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Glocester Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Glocester (March 24, 1788) by Rhode Island. General Assembly (1643-)Rhode Island State Archives
Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Glocester, 1788
For this election, men voted verbally casting either "yea" or "nay".
Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Cranston Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Cranston (March 24, 1788) by Rhode Island. General Assembly (1643-)Rhode Island State Archives
List of Voting Men, Cranston, 1788
"...hath a right by law to vote...
Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Tiverton Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Tiverton (March 24, 1788) by Rhode Island. General Assembly (1643-)Rhode Island State Archives
Votes of the Freeholders of the Town of Tiverton, 1788
Votes of the freeholders of the town of Tiverton to determine whether to adopt or reject the Constitution agreed to on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia.
Pre-printed ballots were introduced in the early 18th century.
Voting Proxy Tickets Republican voting proxy ticket, 1824 (1824) by Republican Party (R.I.)Rhode Island State Archives
Proxy Ballots
These ballots, or proxies, were generally printed by political parties and, as a result, fraud was common.
Voting Proxy Tickets Republican voting proxy ticket, 1826 (1826) by Republican Party (R.I.)Rhode Island State Archives
Republican voting proxy ticket, 1826
Voting Proxy Tickets Anti-Masonic voting proxy ticket, 1830 (1830) by Republican Party (R.I.)Rhode Island State Archives
Anti-Masonic Proxy Ticket, 1830
Voting Proxy Tickets Anti-Masonic voting proxy ticket, 1832 (1832) by Republican Party (R.I.)Rhode Island State Archives
Anti-Masonic Proxy Ticket, 1832
In 1889, a New Era for Elections Administration Began
To address issues of privacy, security, and accuracy, state agencies took over the management of elections. Ballots were standardized, privacy measures were enacted, and, in 1936, Rhode Island became the first state to use voting machines in every district.
The McTammany Voting Machine was used in a single election. The machines were first used in Rhode Island in the election of 1900 and were banned in March 1901 because of mechanical defects.
Many years later Rhode Island began using the Shoup Voting Machine, manufactured in 1936. The machine is a free-standing booth with privacy curtain that provides a panel of levers that represent the choices available to the voter. To place a vote, the voter simply pulled the lever for the candidate or issue of their choosing.
This machine remained in use until 1997 and is still familiar to many Rhode Islanders today.
Voting Machine Layout (1941) by Rhode Island. Department of StateRhode Island State Archives
Voting Machine layout
This layout was provided to local elections officials during the period when the Shoup Voting Machine was in use, from approximately 1936-1999.
Today, elections in Rhode Island are a collaboration between the Elections Division at the Department of State, the State Board of Elections, and local cities and towns.
Elections Division
The Elections Division of the Department of State maintains the Online Voter Registration, prepares ballots, provides voter and candidate information guides (see right), assists local officials and provides Voter IDs, among other duties prior to Election Day.
The State Board of Elections, which was created per Public Law in 1901, oversees the day-of operations for elections in partnership with cities and towns. They train poll workers, tally initial results, and certify election results.
Local city and town officials maintain local voter records, certify nomination papers, identify polling locations, oversee Election Day operations locally, and reconcile and update local voter records.
For additional information and to see the full list of responsibilities for each key entity in Rhode Island elections, visit vote.ri.gov.
This collaboration ensures that voters have the information they need and better access to cast a ballot on Election Day.
Certification of Election, 1st Congressional District (1908) by Rhode Island, Board of ElectionsRhode Island State Archives
Certification of Election, 1908
Submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State, the Certification of Election provides the final tally of votes. The Board of Elections took over this work from the State Returning Board in 1941.
President and Vice President electors President and Vice President electors (December 5, 1860) by Rhode Island. General Assembly (1643-)Rhode Island State Archives
President and Vice President Electors
Certification of Election, 1860
Thanks to activism and technological advances, more Rhode Islanders today can vote in even more ways than ever before.
Take advantage of this. Be a voter!
