Voters check in to vote at George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)
Nearly 66% of Rhode Island’s registered voters cast ballots in the Nov. 5 election, with the highest turnout in 16 years, according to certified results approved by the Rhode Island Board of Elections on Friday.
The board’s 5-0 vote followed a report presented by Miguel Nunez, executive director for the elections board.
More than 517,199 Rhode Islanders cast ballots in the 2024 election, which included presidential, state, and local races, along with ballot questions. Turnout slightly surpassed 2020, when 64% of registered voters participated in the election. In 2016, turnout fell just shy of 60%.
In 2008, the recent peak for voter turnout, 68% of voters participated.
The 2024 elections saw Rhode Island voters embrace early, in-person voting. One-third of ballots cast were during designated, early voting at polling places statewide — the highest share since the state began offering the option during the pandemic in 2020. Over half, 56%, of voters cast ballots in-person on Election Day, while 11% submitted mail ballots.