Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2020

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2020 Rhode Island
Senate Elections
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GeneralNovember 3, 2020
PrimarySeptember 8, 2020
Past Election Results
2018・2016・2014
2012・2010・2008
2020 Elections
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The partisan balance of the Rhode Island State Senate did not change following the 2020 elections, with Democrats preserving their supermajority. All 38 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats held 33 seats and Republicans held 5. Neither Democrats nor Republicans had a net loss or gain of seats, meaning Democrats maintained their 33-5 majority.

The Rhode Island State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 38 Senate seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.

Rhode Island's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Rhode Island, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Rhode Island modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Absentee/mail-in voting: Mail-in ballot applications were sent to all registered voters in the general election. Witness or notary requirements were suspended for mail-in ballots.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

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Party control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates and State government trifectas
Rhode Island State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
     Democratic Party 33 33
     Republican Party 5 5
Total 38 38

Candidates

General election

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Primary




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Incumbents who were not re-elected
See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 10, 2020

Incumbents defeated in the general election

No incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election.

Incumbents defeated in primary elections

Four incumbents lost in the Sept. 8 primaries. Those incumbents were:

Name Party Office
Harold Metts Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 6
Elizabeth Crowley Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 16
William Conley Jr. Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 18
Mark McKenney Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 30

Retiring incumbents

Four incumbents were not on the ballot in 2020.[1] Those incumbents were:

Name Party Office Reason
Adam Satchell Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 9 Retired
Donna Nesselbush Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 15 Retired
Erin Lynch Prata Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 31 Retired
James Sheehan Electiondot.png Democratic Senate District 36 Retired


The four retirements in 2020 represented a decrease from five in 2018. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.

Open Seats in Rhode Island State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020
Year Total seats Open seats Seats with incumbents running for re-election
2020 38 4 (11 percent) 34 (89 percent)
2018 38 5 (13 percent) 33 (87 percent)
2016 38 1 (3 percent) 37 (97 percent)
2014 38 2 (5 percent) 36 (95 percent)
2012 38 3 (8 percent) 35 (92 percent)
2010 38 5 (13 percent) 33 (87 percent)

Process to become a candidate

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Rhode Island

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Rhode Island General Laws, Title 17, Chapter 14

In Rhode Island, all candidates must adhere to the same filing procedure, regardless of partisan affiliation. First, a candidate must file a declaration of candidacy. A candidate for statewide or federal office must submit this form to the Rhode Island Secretary of State. A candidate for the state legislature must file the declaration with the local board of canvassers in the city or town where he or she is registered to vote. Declarations of candidacy may be filed during the last consecutive Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in June of the election year.[2][3]

A party candidate uses the declaration of candidacy to declare partisan affiliation, as well. If a candidate belongs to a party but wishes to run under a different party label, he or she must disaffiliate from the original party 90 days prior to filing the declaration of candidacy. Party-affiliated candidates may choose to run as independent candidates. Likewise, unaffiliated candidates may file as party candidates. Once they do, they automatically become members of the party.[2][4]

In Rhode Island, political party officials may designate candidates to represent their parties in primaries and general elections. Such designations are called endorsements. A party's state committee is responsible for making endorsements for federal and statewide candidates; senatorial and representative district committees make endorsements for state legislative candidates. A majority of the committee's members must sign an endorsement form in order to endorse a particular candidate. Endorsements by district committees must be made by 4:00 p.m. on the day after the last day of the filing period. Endorsements by the state committee must be made by 4:00 p.m. on the second day after the final day of the filing period.[2][5][6]

Regardless of endorsement status, a candidate for federal, statewide, or state legislative office must collect signatures on nomination papers, which are issued after the candidate submits his or her declaration of candidacy. Signature requirements are the same for political party candidates as they are for unaffiliated candidates. Nomination papers become available within two business days of the final date for filing endorsements. Signature requirements are summarized in the table below.[2][7][8]

Nomination paper signature requirements
Office Signatures required
Governor, United States Senator 1,000
United States Representative, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state 500
State senator 100
State representative 50

Each sheet of a nomination paper can include only signatures from voters residing in the same city or town. Papers are due to the appropriate local board of canvassers by 4:00 p.m. on the 60th day preceding the primary.[2][9]

Write-in candidates

Write-in candidates do not need to file special paperwork in order to have their votes tabulated. However, write-in candidates engaged in campaign activities may be required to comply with the state's campaign finance laws.[10][11]

2020 ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for Rhode Island State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Rhode Island State Senate All candidates 100 N/A 6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due) Source

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article III of the Rhode Island Constitution lays out the requirements for officeholders of Rhode Island's state government.

Salaries and per diem

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[12]
SalaryPer diem
$19,037/yearNo per diem is paid.

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Rhode Island legislators assume office the first Tuesday in January.[13]

Rhode Island political history

Trifectas

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

Rhode Island Party Control: 1992-2024
Fifteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R I I D D D D D D D D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Presidential politics in Rhode Island

2016 Presidential election results

U.S. presidential election, Rhode Island, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 54.4% 252,525 4
     Republican Donald Trump/Mike Pence 38.9% 180,543 0
     Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 3.2% 14,746 0
     Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 1.3% 6,220 0
     American Delta Roque De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg 0.1% 671 0
     - Write-in votes 2% 9,439 0
Total Votes 464,144 4
Election results via: Rhode Island Board of Elections

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.

Rhode Island utilizes a semi-closed primary system. Unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary without affiliating with that party. Voters that are affiliated with a party at the time of the primary election may only vote in that party's primary.[14][15][16]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

Polls in Rhode Island open at 7 a.m. Eastern Time except in New Shoreham, where they open at 9 a.m. All polls statewide close at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[17]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Rhode Island, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Rhode Island, and at least 16 years old. To voter, one must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.[18] Applicants can register online, by mailing in a voter registration form, or in person at the local board of canvassers or other state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Human Services, or the Department of Mental Health.[18]

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Rhode Island enacted automatic voter registration in 2017.[19]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Rhode Island has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration
“ Rhode Island allows for same day voter registration for the Presidential Election only. If you miss the voter registration deadline, you can register to vote on Election Day, but you will only be able to vote for President and Vice President. You will not be able to vote in any state, local, or other federal races. You can only register and vote on Election Day at the location designated by your local board of canvassers.[18][20] ”

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Rhode Island, you must be a resident of the state.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Rhode Island does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[21] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Rhode Island Department of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Rhode Island requires voters to present photo identification (ID) while voting. Accepted forms of ID include a Rhode Island driver's license, Rhode Island voter ID card, and U.S. passport. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Rhode Island Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“
  • RI Driver's License or Permit
  • RI Voter ID Card *
  • U.S. Passport
  • ID issued by a U.S. educational institution
  • U.S. military ID
  • ID card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island
  • Government issued medical card
  • Tribal ID[20]
 ”
  • *The Rhode Island Secretary of State's office is issuing free voter photo ID cards to individuals who do not possess any of the valid Photo IDs listed above. For additional information, visit Rhode Island's online Voter Information Center, call 401-222-2340, or email [email protected].

Early voting

Rhode Island permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All Rhode Island voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail.[22]

Absentee ballot applications must be received by your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m. 21 days prior to the election. Completed absentee ballots must then be received by your local board of canvassers by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Should circumstances arise within 20 days of an election that will prevent a voter from making it to the polls on Election Day, he or she may qualify for an emergency mail ballot. More information regarding the emergency mail ballot process can be found here.[22][23][24]


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Rhode Island Secretary of State, "Rhode Island: How to Run for Office 2014," accessed March 26, 2014
  3. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-14-1," accessed March 26, 2014
  4. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-14-1.1," accessed March 26, 2014
  5. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-12-4," accessed March 26, 2014
  6. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-12-11," accessed March 26, 2014
  7. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-14-7," accessed March 26, 2014
  8. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-14-4," accessed March 26, 2014
  9. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-14-11," accessed March 26, 2014
  10. ↑ Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17, Section 17-19-31," accessed March 26, 2014
  11. ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "Procedures for Tabulating and Reporting Write-In Votes," accessed March 26, 2014
  12. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  13. ↑ Rhode Island Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
  14. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 22, 2024
  15. ↑ Bill Track 50, "RI H7662," accessed July 21, 2024
  16. ↑ State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "R.I. Gen. Laws § 17–9.1-23 ," accessed July 22, 2024
  17. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Election Day Voting Hours," accessed September 24, 2024
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Rhode Island Department of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 18, 2023
  19. ↑ Providence Journal, “Raimondo signs automatic voter registration bill into law,” August 1, 2017
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  21. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote from Home with a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
  23. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Apply for a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
  24. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote by Emergency Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023


Current members of the Rhode Island State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Dominick Ruggerio
Majority Leader:Ryan Pearson
Minority Leader:Jessica de la Cruz
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Sam Bell (D)
District 6
District 7
District 8
Vacant
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Dawn Euer (D)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
Vacant
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
Democratic Party (31)
Republican Party (5)
Vacancies (2)


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