Media Center

The RI Voting Access Coalition released the results of a poll showing strong public bipartisan support for changes that are part of the Let RI Vote campaign. The Let RI Vote campaign is focused on safely and securely expanding access to the ballot for all eligible voters.

Under the leadership of the statewide Complete Count Committee, Rhode Islanders worked hard to ensure that every resident was counted in the 2020 Census, including people in communities that are traditionally hard to count. That work is reflected in today’s announcement.

We must acknowledge that systemic racism has been ingrained in the fabric of the United States since its founding. If we are indifferent at this pivotal time in our history, we become enablers by default.

A coalition of more than two dozen grassroots organizations are kicking off the “Let RI Vote” campaign today, with voters, advocates and experts explaining the need to strengthen the Ocean State’s elections systems.

Common Cause Rhode Island worked with Secretary Raimondo on Census 2020 outreach in Rhode Island. She spoke up early with concerns about then-President Trump’s effort to unconstitutionally exclude undocumented immigrants. She worked to raise awareness of the Census Bureau’s end-to-end test which was held in Providence County in 2018. She formed Rhode Island’s first-ever statewide “Complete Count Committee” to ensure that all Rhode Islanders would be included in 2020 Census data — including members of communities that are traditionally “hard to count.” And she included money in her state budget to help fund outreach efforts. 

As Secretary of Commerce, Gov. Raimondo will be uniquely positioned to fix the well-documented problems with the 2020 Census – and to guide planning for the 2030 Census.