By JIM BARON

PROVIDENCE — When was the last time a half-million Rhode Islanders did anything all at once?

Well, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis says he expects more than 500,000 Ocean State voters to cast ballots on Election Day next Tuesday, the most in the state's history. If that happens, he adds, election officials will be prepared to handle that kind of volume.
Mollis and his staff, along with the RI Board of Elections, are bracing for what they expect will be a record turnout, besting the 453,365 who voted in the 1992 election.
Nearly nine out of 10 of Rhode Island adults who are eligible to vote are registered, Mollis said, and as many as 80 percent of those registered could cast votes next Tuesday.
All 542 of the state's polling places will be in operation – 100 more than in the September primary and nearly three times more than the 178 that accommodated March's presidential primary, which itself saw a record turnout for a primary -- and 750,000 ballots have been printed. About 21,000 voters will use mail ballots, Mollis predicted.
“We expect it to be a really smooth election,” without a lot of the problems and snafus that often plague election officials, the secretary said.
“Our voter lists are as clean as they have ever been,”  Mollis told reporters after a Statehouse briefing Tuesday, although he acknowledged there will always be room for improvement in that area.
Aiming to prevent problems before they arise, the secretary of state's office has improved the “Voter Information Center” link of its website to direct people to the proper polling place and has instituted a Voter Help Line. People can call 222-2340 during business hours between now and Election Day and get any voting-related question answered. On Election Day, staffers will be answering the phone until the polls close at 9 p.m.
The secretary has recorded radio and TV commercials and is placing ads in Rhode Island newspapers to publicize the website and phone line so voters will know they are available.
Mollis said his biggest concern is that people may show up at the wrong polling place, give that some voters may be casting a ballot at the third different polling place this year. To prevent that, he is urging people to log on to the Voter Information Center, type in their name, birthdate and ZIP code and they can pull up all of their voter registration information as well as their designated polling place.
See VOTING, Page A-2
If a voter does come to the wrong polling place, Mollis said one of the poll workers should be able to direct them to the correct location. Or they can call the Voter Help Line or the Board of Canvassers for their city or town.
Robert Kando, executive director of the RI Board of Elections, says, despite the anticipated massive turnout “we don't expect any great waits” at the polls. All of the election machinery has been tested, he said, and there will be about 5,000 people working on Election Day to ensure a smooth process.
Kando and Mollis recommended that voters avoid the polling “rush hours” of 7-9 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. and if possible plan to vote during off-hours to cut down on potential long lines. They are urging businesses to allow employees to vote during off-hours.
People who have not registered, or who just recently moved to a new city or town, can go to their city or town hall to register and will be allowed to vote in the presidential election. Emergency ballots for those who will not be able to vote next Tuesday are available now at their city or town halls.
“We have made it easy for people to exercise their right to vote and we are urging them to get as much information as they can in preparation for this exciting day,” Mollis said.