PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In a departure from tradition, Rhode Island’s primary elections will occur on Wednesday, September 9, rather than the customary Tuesday. The shift was prompted by the proximity of the original date to Labor Day.
Governor Dan McKee, a member of the Democratic Party, approved this adjustment earlier in the week. Initially slated for September 8, the election was too close to the holiday weekend, prompting the change.
State and municipal authorities advocated for the date alteration, highlighting logistical challenges in preparing voting venues post-holiday. Despite this date shift, the deadlines for filing remain unchanged according to the new legislation.
“We have to prepare over 400 polling stations across the state on the day preceding the election,” explained Nick Lima, Cranston’s registrar and director of elections, during a legislative hearing in January. “This task is particularly challenging on a holiday, as many of our venues are schools, community centers, and churches.”
Altering election dates is not uncommon. For instance, legislators in Massachusetts have moved the 2026 primary from September 15 to September 1, citing potential benefits to voter participation.
Currently, only four states, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware, hold their primaries in September. Delaware is notable for having the latest primary date in the nation, scheduled for September 15 this year.
Legislation seeking to move up Delaware’s primary election by several months has been introduced in the statehouse, but previous attempts to do so have stalled.
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