With data released questioning Rhode Island's election integrity, a thorough and nonpartisan investigation is required whether or not fraud occurred.

Election Integrity For The Ocean State: Serious Questions Result From Claims

Following the release of city-by-city and district-by-district voter registration and 2016 election voting research by Ken Block, via his Simpatico Software Systems data analysis company, we call on the Governor and/or the Attorney General to initiate an independent investigation. That the voter registration process in Rhode Island may have been corrupted is a very serious issue. This shocking data means our current registration practices may need to be amended, with individuals appropriately held accountable, if voters are to maintain confidence in our State’s election integrity. Whether or not this has led to actual voter fraud is one of the reasons a thorough and nonpartisan investigation into election integrity is required.

 

Any public official knowingly involved in any unlawful registration process, should resign immediately.

According to Block’s research, results from the 2016 General Election show that more than thirty percent (over 143,000 votes) of the total votes cast were from voters who did not have a validating drivers license or social security number on file in Rhode Island’s voter registration system. In every city and town in the Ocean State at least 20% of all votes cast last November, were by individuals without such personally identifying information (PII) on record. In five towns, over 40% of voters had no listed PII.

The Center further recommends additional actions regarding reforms to the state’s overall election process: 

  • Executive order or legislation requiring Rhode Island’s Secretary of State to backfill PII information for the hundreds of thousands of voter registrations that are missing this information.
  • Review of Rhode Island’s “Motor Voter” and automatic registration policies to determine if they comply with federal law
  • Review of state’s absentee mail ballot, emergency voting, and voter ID laws to ensure they comport with the reformed voter registration process
  • Consider a constitutional amendment to codify appropriate reforms so as to ensure election integrity for future generations
  • State or Federal lawsuit on behalf of potentially disenfranchised voters, in order to assure prompt and clear action to cure any legal defects in advance of the next election cycle

Statements from the Center On Election Integrity:

September 29th, 2017 – STATEMENT: Bizarre & Inadequate Response to Voter Registration Controversy

September 28th, 2017 – Center Calls for Independent Investigation to Look Into Rhode Island Voter Registration Irregularities

In the Media:

9/29/17 – GoLocal ProvBlock’s Voter Fraud Allegations Spark Controversy in Rhode Island