Sec. of State Candidate Cortellessa Criticizes Gorbea for "Voter Suppression"

GoLocalProv Political Team

Sec. of State Candidate Cortellessa Criticizes Gorbea for "Voter Suppression"

Nellie Gorbea
Rhode Island Secretary of State candidate Pat Cortellessa is blasting the Secretary of State’s office for providing voters “a lack of access” during the 2016 Rhode Island Primary.

Cortellessa sights a GoLocalProv report from April of 2016 in which Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea took heavy criticism for closing 60 polling places across the state.

“This is clearly an act of voter suppression that could have been avoided, The Secretary of State’s primary roll is to advocate for greater voting access to Rhode Islanders, something that did not occur during the last presidential primary.”

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He continued, “Voting is the hallmark of our democracy, whether it be a primary or general election. As your next Secretary of State, I promise you voter suppression will not stand in the Ocean State under my watch.”

Cortellessa concluded, “If this type of suppression can happen in a primary, who is to say it cannot happen in the general election this November? To Rhode Island voters this is unacceptable.”

Voter Suppression in 2016

As GoLocalProv wrote at the time, “Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea is coming under stinging criticism for the organization and lack of polling places available for tomorrow’s primary in RI. Much of the criticism has come from those supporting Bernie Sanders that fear long lines will deter new voters. Gorbea has endorsed Hillary Clinton for President.”

Gorbea’s Defense

Following the criticism in 2016, Gorbea's office defended the closures in an interview with GoLocal: 

"The Secretary is not going to second-guess the Board of Elections who worked closely with the Board of Canvassers. There are clearly defined roles for the Secretary of State, and the Board of Elections, who is not under the purview of the Secretary of State," said Gorbea's spokesperson Nicole Lagace in a phone interview with GoLocalProv.

"This was a data-driven decision by the Board of Elections based on past presidential primaries -- it's great to see so much enthusiasm this year. The fewer polling places are a direct result of previous turnouts. In 2008, there were 177. In 2012, when there was a dismal turnout, there were 135.  This year it will be 144.  If more people turn out this year, then the Board of Elections will likely increase that number for the next election," said Lagace.


GoLocal Statewide Poll - Conducted by Harvard's Della Volpe - June, 2018

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