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PROVIDENCE -- Governor Raimondo has signed an executive order moving Rhode Island’s presidential primary from April 28 to June 2, as requested by the state Board of Elections.

She announced her decision in a tweet that said:

"Last week, the Board of Elections requested that the presidential primary election be postponed from April 28 to June 2 and that the election take place primarily by mail ballot.

"I am following the advice of the Board of Elections, and will sign an executive order to do this."

Later in the day, she signed an executive order that looked back at the 2016 presidential primaries when "over 180,000 Rhode Islanders cast their ballots at.. over 146 polling places,’’ and then ahead to this year’s primary with a potential 182 polling places with a minimum of 8 poll workers each.

Under current circumstances, her executive order, essentially says: that no longer makes sense.

"The state continues to work tirelessly to contain the spread of COVID 19 within its borders; and...minimizing contact between individuals, including those who would ordinarily vote at a polling place, will help to slow the spread of COVID-19,’’ .

Under these circumstances, she directed the Board of Elections, working with the secretary of state, to come up with a "plan to hold a predominantly mail ballot primary."

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea had urged the Board of Elections to stick with the April 28 date and rely primarily on mail ballots.

After Raimondo, a fellow Democrat, announced her decision on Twitter, Gorbea issued a statement that said in part:

"I applaud Governor Raimondo’s efforts to protect the health of Rhode Island voters and election workers, and I thank her for her leadership during this challenging time."

"Any change to the date and format of the primary may prove confusing for voters,’’ but "a predominantly mail ballot election will ensure that all eligible Rhode Islanders can cast a ballot in a safe and secure manner while protecting the integrity of every vote," Gorbea said.

"Our first step in the coming weeks will be to send all registered voters a mail ballot application with a postage-paid return envelope."

kgregg@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @kathyprojo