Rhode Island Voters Approve All 7 Questions In Special Election

Cranston RI

02 March, 2021

10:33 PM

Description

PROVIDENCE, RI — Tuesday was Election Day in Rhode Island. Voters went to the polls, cast their ballots early at their town or city hall or voted by mail to approve or reject seven statewide budget questions. The results are in, and all seven questions were approved, most by a healthy margin. Budget referenda are usually included on the general election ballot in November. This year, the state budget was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic until after the election, forcing the special election in March. Much of the state and municipal funding for this election came from a grant Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea's office received in 2020. The seven questions are summarized below, along with a breakdown of vote counts from the Rhode Island Board of Elections. Question One $107.3 million for higher education, including $57.3 million for a fine arts center at URI, $38 million for the Clarke Science Building at RIC and $12 million to renovate CCRI's campuses. Approve: 59,145 votes, 58.9 percent Polling place: 11,319Mail ballots: 4,707Emergency ballots: 43,119 Reject: 41,252 votes, 41.1 percent Polling place: 12,616Mail ballots: 4,441Emergency ballots: 24,195 Question Two $74 million for environment and recreational projects, a total of $10 million over the governor's original proposal. Approve: 77,954 votes, 77.9 percent Polling place: 15,208Mail ballots: 6,255Emergency ballots: 56,491 Reject: 22,147 votes, 22.1 percent Polling place: 8,697Mail ballots: 2,895Emergency ballots: 10,555 Question Three $65 million for affordable housing, an increase of $40 million over the original proposal, included in the amendment offered by the governor in July. Approve: 65,210 votes, 65.5 percent Polling place: 11,732Mail ballots: 5,008Emergency ballots: 48,470 Reject: 34,288 votes, 34.5 percent Polling place: 11,995Mail ballots: 4,046Emergency ballots: 18,247 Question Four $71.7 million for transportation initiatives. Approve: 80,667 votes, 80.4 percent Polling place: 16,049Mail ballots: 6,650Emergency ballots: 57,968 Reject: 19,672 votes, 19.6 percent Polling place: 7,853Mail ballots: 2,499Emergency ballots: 9,320 Question Five $15 million for early childhood care and the educational capital fund. Approve: 66,438 votes, 66.2 percent Polling place: 12,252Mail ballots: 5,162Emergency ballots: 49,024 Reject: 33,876 votes, 33.8 percent Polling place: 11,662Mail ballots: 3,996Emergency ballots: 18,218 Question Six $7 million for arts and cultural infrastructure, including $6 million for the cultural arts and economy grant program, and $1 million for the state preservation grants program. Approve: 60,104 votes, 60 percent Polling place: 11,392Mail ballots: 4,756Emergency ballots: 43,956 Reject: 40,063 votes, 40 percent Polling place: 12,449Mail ballots: 4,365Emergency ballots: 23,249 Question Seven $60 million for commerce infrastructure, including $20 million for the Port of Davisville at Quonset and $40 million for industrial site development. Approve: 58,713 votes, 58.7 percent Polling place: 11,646Mail ballots: 5,029Emergency ballots: 42,038 Reject: 41,226 votes, 41.3 percent Polling place: 12,134Mail ballots: 4,082Emergency ballots: 25,010