Staffing shortages, technical problems delay opening of some Providence poll sites

At least half a dozen polling sites in Providence opened late on primary day due to unexpected staffing shortages, according to the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

The capital city hired 480 people to staff polling sites across the city. But more than 100 of them called out sick, or simply didn’t show up Wednesday morning, Miguel Nunez, elections director, told the panel at its scheduled 10 a.m. meeting.

The delays come as the capital city heads into a competitive mayoral primary and city council seats, where more than 12,316 voters, representing 14% of the Providence voter base, have cast ballots early or through the first three hours of the primary.

All polling sites had opened by 8:10 a.m. after workers were reassigned, and promoted to supervisory positions, Nunez said.

“It’s happened in the past, but this is the worst I’ve seen,” Nunez said of the rate of no-shows.

Polls were supposed to open at 7 a.m.

Finding people to agree to work a 13-hour day helping voters check in, submit ballots, and operating equipment has been a rising problem in Rhode Island and nationwide, especially amid growing threats and safety concerns for election administrators. Many cities and towns have increased their pay to try to combat the shortage, Nunez said.

Providence offers $175 to $250 for the day, depending on position, which is less than the $300 maximum offered in Portsmouth, but far above the $0 for greeters in Bristol, Hopkinton and Middletown (although greeters do get meal stipends in these locations). Registered voters can agree to work at a polling site in any municipality, regardless of where they live.

The reason for the large share of no-shows in Providence has not been determined, though election board members agreed to look into details.

“That’s exorbitant,” Michael Connors, a board member, said of the absence rate. “That’s a major issue.”

On Pitman Street in Providence’s East Side, a line of voters wrapped around the entrance to The Salvation Army, waiting more than an hour for an election official to open the ballot tabulator machine because the designated supervisor did not show up. The thrift store and donation center was the final polling site in Providence to open, welcoming voters through its doors by 8:10 a.m., Nunez said.

Shortly after 8 a.m., the doors at the Salvation Army site opened, and voters streamed in to cast ballots. Within 10 minutes, the line of 20 shrank to a few people.

Despite the delay, the atmosphere was optimistic, with those waiting in line lightheartedly grumbling and talking amongst themselves, later sampling Munchkins brought by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Helena Buonanno Foulkes, who arrived at 8 a.m. with campaign staff to cast her ballot.

“I’ve been so uplifted and nourished by the people who have been around me,” she said. “The confidence people have in me, the hope people have the state will work, it’s exciting but it’s also a big responsibility.”

Gov. Dan McKee voted at 8:30 a.m. at Bear Hill Village in Cumberland. McKee shook hands with poll workers before casting his ballot and stayed outside speaking to reporters for about 10 minutes.

Among those waiting in line with Foulkes at the Salvation Army was Allison Bryant. 

A remote worker for a New York technology company, Bryant, who has lived in the precinct since 2021, kept an eye on the time, calculating how long she could wait before having to return home to log on for the day.

If she was not able to vote in the morning, she planned to drop by Providence City Hall later to cast a ballot — voters unable to cast ballots at designated polling places because of technical problems were welcomed to do so at the board of canvassers’ office.

“I feel pretty strongly about voting,” she said.

Bryant declined to say which races or candidates compelled her participation, but said she enjoys the atmosphere of voting in person on Election Day.

“Normally, it’s quite convenient,” she said.

For Amanda Walsh and her 8-year-old son, Sutton, the delay cut into their plans to hold signs for Kim Ahern, one of four Democratic candidates for the open attorney general seat. But the mother and son didn’t mind the wait otherwise, with Sutton noting he was out of school for the day.

He said he was looking forward to watching results come in at night, with particular interest in the attorney general and mayoral races. But, he wasn’t giving his mom any input on her ballot.

“It’s her vote,” Sutton Walsh said.

Also in line, trying for a third time to cast his ballot, was Mark Masiello. The Providence resident mistakenly showed up to a different polling site on Tuesday, not realizing that state leaders moved to delay the primary  a day to avoid the logistics of preparing for an election right after the Labor Day holiday.

“I just assumed, because I always vote on Tuesdays,” he said.

Masiello returned to the same, incorrect polling place Wednesday morning, only to be redirected to the Salvation Army site.

A Coventry native who has lived in Providence for the last 25 years, Masiello was most interested in voting for Foulkes in the gubernatorial primary.

“I’m excited to have somebody with a career of experience outside of government,” he said. 

Michael Salerno contributed to this report.