AARP Rhode Island Urges Big Voter Turnout

Busy Family Caregivers Have Options To Election Day Voting

PROVIDENCE -- AARP Rhode Island State Director Kathleen Connell today urged all registered voters to review candidates’ positions on the issues and to cast ballots in the September 12 Rhode Island primary elections.

“The 2018 midterms will be among the most historic elections in a generation,” said Connell.“ All voters are encouraged to participate, and the candidates for office would be wise to reach out to older voters. Age 50-plus Rhode Islanders are among the most reliable voters and are highly engaged in the important issues of our day.”

Registered voters will have the opportunity on September 12 to vote in primary elections that will determine political parties’ candidates for Congress, as well as the parties’ contenders for many local and statewide offices. Nationwide, the balance of power in both houses of Congress, as well as in many state legislatures and governorships, will be decided in the fall’s general elections.

While the most common way to vote is for registered voters to go to their local polling place on Election Day, Connell said that many family caregivers and others who may have difficulty voting on Election Day may be eager to take advantage of other methods of casting a ballot.

“With all that unpaid family caregivers have on their plates each day, it can often be hard for them to get to the polls on Election Day,” said Connell. “If a caregivers’ loved one is voting, it can be even harder, especially if their loved one has mobility issues. When available, alternative methods of casting a ballot are essential to allowing our state’s family caregivers and others to participate in this important election.”

To learn more about Rhode Island  absentee voting ,  early voting and mail voting, visit https://vote.sos.ri.gov/

This year, AARP has launched “Be the Difference. Vote,” a multifaceted campaign designed to maximize the influence of America’s 50-plus voters. The campaign seeks to get the largest possible turnout of voters age 50-plus to the polls during the ongoing primaries and in the November general election. It will also put front and center issues like Medicare security and family caregiving, along with other topics of particular interest to older voters.

To learn more about “Be the Difference. Vote,” check out aarp.org/vote to see how to get involved and state informed.