Presidential Primary Live: RI voters head to polls in 2024 election

Republicans and Democrats already have their presidential nominees secured with former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, respectively, but there will still be a presidential primary election in Rhode Island on April 2.

So why is Rhode Island still having its primary?

"The Presidential Preference Primary is required under State law (RIGL § 17-12.1-8). Voting has already begun," according to the secretary of state's office.

Additionally, you may see candidates on your Rhode Island Primary ballot for candidates that have already dropped out of the race. Why?

All candidates who qualified for the ballot and did not formally pull out by Rhode Island's Jan. 30, 2024, withdrawal deadline are on the ballot.

"They may still receive votes and be awarded delegates in accordance with their party’s delegate selection plan," according to the secretary of state's office. (In Rhode Island, Republican delegates are apportioned among candidates who get at least 10% of the vote.)

I voted for a candidate that dropped out, what happened to my ballot?

Voters' ballots will still count despite voting for a candidate who dropped out.

For example, Nikki Haley suspended her Republican presidential campaign after only winning Vermont, which led to her securing 89 delegates, according to the Associated Press. Republican Party rules allow states to award all of their delegates to the candidate with the most votes, CBS News reported.

“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that,” Haley said Wednesday. “At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away. And our conservative cause badly needs more people.”

Josh Putnam, a political scientist specializing in delegate rules, told CBS News that delegates in "the vast majority of cases are locked in" to a candidate heading toward the Republican National Convention.

Morning is slow, but rush expected to come by 5 p.m.

At the Dominica Manor public housing high rise on Atwells Avenue, the biggest excitement by 11 a.m. was one of the delegates on the ballot who came to vote, including for themselves, pointing out their name on the ballot to poll workers.

"It's been pretty low turnout," poll worker Brigid Wallace said. "It's been quiet."

At 11 a.m., 36 people had cast ballots.

For seasoned poll worker Don Porraro, it was exactly what he expected, for the morning.

"After 1, it builds up and by 5, there's a big rush," he said.

– Wheeler Cowperthwaite, staff writer

Voting not like it was decades ago, when elections meant waiting in line

At the Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church in Providence, voters were trickling in. By 10:10 a.m. there were 15 votes cast and by 10:40, another two people had voted.

The first two voters came in right at 7 a.m., when the polls opened. Workers said they were still putting up signs when an elderly couple came in to vote.

Poll workers said it was about the same activity level as the last special election.

People start coming in around 4 or 5," poll worker Sandy Chase said. "But it gets slow."

Poll workers said voting was not like it was decades ago, when elections meant waiting in line.

Among the political celebrities sited at the church was former Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, who served from 2007 to 2015.

– Wheeler Cowperthwaite, staff writer

'Our least attended election'

In the northwestern corner of the state, Burrillville Town Clerk Vicki Martin was keeping track on early voting numbers.

As of 10:30 a.m., she said 86 of the town’s 11,429 active voters had cast ballots at the three open polling places.

The primary will likely be “our least attended election,” she said, considering the result “is already decided.”

– Tom Mooney, staff writer

First-time voter gets a round of applause

By 9:25 Tuesday morning just 22 people cast ballots at the three precincts voting at Middletown’s Gaudet Middle School but among them was first-time voter Evelin Reyes who just became a U.S. citizen in September.

Reyes’ was accompanied by a friend who let the room know it was her first time voting, leading to a round of applause from the dozen poll workers.

“I think one of the most important things you can do is vote in an election,” Reyes said. “And my friend encouraged me a lot.”

Reyes declined to say who she voted for.

- With reports from Will Richmond, Journal Editor

More: Presidential nominees all but decided before RI's primary, but these voters still excited

Vote count in the single digits at Providence's South Side Cultural Center

At the South Side Cultural Center in Providence, by 9:40 a.m., the total vote count was four.

Moderator Joseph Rose Jr., who was also the early voting moderator for city hall, said to check back in the afternoon, as too early in the morning was not indicative of turnout.

"This is low," he said.

- With reports from Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Journal Staff writer

Voting gets underway in Rhode Island's presidential primary ... slowly

At the Asa Messer Elementary School in Providence's West End, an hour and 20 minutes after the polls first opened, six people had voted.

"It's slow but steady," poll worker Jon Lax said.

He said he was not surprised by the light turnout because the only things on the ballot were the presidential primaryand delegates.

Cool temperatures and gray skies likely tamped down some enthusiasm for people to go to the polls.

"People will turn out," he said. "This is one where committed voters come out.

- With reports from Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Journal Staff writer

Who is on Rhode Island's April 2 presidential primary ballot?

The presidential candidates who garnered enough signatures to qualify for the Rhode Island ballot include:

Democrats:

• Joe Biden

• Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips

Republicans:

• Donald Trump

• Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

• Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

• Entrepreneur Vivek G. Ramaswamy.

More: Yes, there's still a presidential primary in RI. Here's everything voters should know.

Why are candidates who dropped out still on the ballot?

All candidates who qualified for the ballot and did not formally pull out by Rhode Island's Jan. 30, 2024, withdrawal deadline are on the ballot.

"They may still receive votes and be awarded delegates in accordance with their party’s delegate selection plan," according to the secretary of state's office. (In Rhode Island, Republican delegates are apportioned among candidates who get at least 10% of the vote.)

What's the weather forecast?

Voters might want to get to the polls early to avoid the rain that's expected to move in this afternoon.

Otherwise, expect mostly cloudy skies with a high temperature in the upper 40s to low 50s. The wind will blow from the northeast at 5 to 10 mph.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Primary Election 2024: Live coverage of the presidential primary