6 Things to Know Before Voting in NK

Make your forefathers proud and vote this Tuesday in the 2012 Elections. Hopefully by now you know the issues and the candidates, but that's not all you need to know. 

From polling locations to what you need to vote to ballot questions, here's North Kingstown Patch's list of things you need to know before voting.

1. Where Do I Vote?

Just because there's a polling place down the road doesn't mean that's where you should go to vote. Before heading out the door, make sure you're heading to the right place.

There are two great tools to help you find your polling location:

• Rhode Island's Voter Information Center
• Google's "Find My Polling Place"

Simply enter your address into either website and find out your polling place. Both sites also list ballot questions for your region.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 6.

2.  What Do I Need to Vote?

The days of waltzing into your polling place with nothing but yourself are over. Following the recent passage of the voter ID law, all voters are required to bring an acceptable form of identification, including:

• RI driver's license
• US passport
• ID card issued by US educational institution
• US military identification card
• State of Rhode Island or US government issued ID card
• government issued medical card
• Rhode Island Voter Identification Card

3. Who Do I Vote For?

Don't worry: Patch isn't trying to tell you which candidates should get your vote. What we mean is that the state senator or representative you voted for in the last election may no longer represent you.

Due to last year's remapping of state and local districts in Rhode Island following the 2010 Census, many districts have changed in North Kingstown .Click here for a map of North Kingstown to see if your Senate, Representative and local precinct numbers (and your local polling location) have changed. You can also visit the Secretary of State's website, where you can enter in your name and address and find out your House and Senate districts.

4.  Who's Running For What This Year?

Need a recap on the local, state or national races? Check below for the list of races that North Kingstown voters will see on the ballot along with all of the candidates. (Click the links for more info on the candidates where it's available.)

North Kingstown Town Council

• Democrats:   Richard "Dick" Welch, Michael Bestwick (incumbent), Tracey McCue, Donald A. Souza Jr. 
• Republicans:   Elizabeth Dolan (incumbent), Carol Hueston (incumbent), Brent Cleaveland, Mark Hawkins, Kerry McKay
• Independents:  Dorman Hayes, Richard Lamere, Kevin Maloney, Colin O'Sullivan, Rick Thompson

North Kingstown School Committee

• Democrats:  Lynda Avanzato (incumbent)
• Republicans:  Augustine Manocchia, Robert Jones
• Independents:  Cheryl Clarkin (endorsed by NK Town Republican Committee)

House District 31

• Democrat:  Steve Campo
• Republican:  Doreen Costa (incumbent)

Houst District 32

• Democrat:  James Sheehan (incumbent)
• Republican:  Tina McKendall

State Senate District 35

• Democrat:  Winter B. Hames III
• Republican:Dawson Hodgson (incumbent)

US Congress District 2

• Democrat:James Langevin (incumbent)
• Republican:  Michael G. Riley
• Independent:  Abel Collins

US Senate

• Democrat: Sheldon Whitehouse (incumbent)
• Republican:  B. Barrett Hinckley III

5.  What's on the Ballot?

We've seen the TV ads for Twin River and heard the radio ads with Viola Davis regarding some of the questions on the 2012 ballot this year. Here's a breakdown of the questions you'll see this year for both state and local issues:

STATE QUESTIONS

1. Should Twin River in Lincoln add state-operated casino gaming (such as table games) to the types of gambling it offers?
2. Should Newport Grand add state-operated casino gaming (such as table games) to the types of gambling it offers?
3. Should the state issue $50 million in bonds for renovations and modernization of academic buildings at Rhode Island College (including renovations, upgrades and expansions of the health and nursing facilities)?
4. Should the state issue $94 million in bond for the construction of a new veterans' home and renovations to existing facilities?
5. Should the state issue $20 million in bonds to be leveraged with federal and state capitalization grants to finance waste water and drinking water infrastructure projects?
6. Should the state issue $20 million in bonds for the following environmental and recreational purposes:
   • $4 million for Narragansett Bay & Watershed Restoration
   • $2.5 million for state land acquisition (open space) 
   • $4.5 million for farmland development rights
   • $2.5 million for local land acquisition grants
   • $5.5 million for local recreation grants
   • $1 million for historic/passive parks
7. Should the state issue $25 million in bonds for affordable housing?

LOCAL QUESTIONS

1. Should the town charter limit the number of years an elected official or person appointed to a board/committee/commission to 12 consecutive years? Said person will also not be available to serve on said body for two consecutive years.
2. Should the town charter require the "advice and consent" of the majority of the town council in all of the town manager's appointments of department heads (or any employee who reports directly to the town manager)?
3. Should the number of school committee members be reduced from seven to five?
4. Should budget referendums require the signatures of three percent of the qualified electors of the town as certified in the previous election instead of three percent of the qualified electors who voted in the previous general election?

6. Where Do I Find the Results?

Check back here to North Kingstown Patch throughout Election Day for the latest stories and results. We will try to have the official results posted as soon as possible. 

Still confused about where/how/when to vote? Contact the Board of Canvassers office at 401-294-3331 ext. 128.