Rhode Island Joins ERIC

Correction: An earlier version of this dispatch erroneously stated that Rhode Island had enacted early voting. The state legislature considered but did not pass an early voting measure this year.

In July 2015, Rhode Island became the 13th member of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multistate partnership that uses secure, state-of-the-art technology to provide election officials with the data they need to keep voter lists complete and up-to-date. By participating in ERIC, Rhode Island election administrators will receive comprehensive information about when the state’s voters move or die or when unregistered citizens become newly eligible to vote. Joining ERIC is one of many reforms that Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea outlined earlier this year to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of Rhode Island’s electoral system.

Since its formation in 2012, ERIC has helped states identify more than 100,000 deceased individuals, 2.6 million Americans who have moved from the address in the their voter file, and 41,000 duplicate records, as well as nearly 12 million eligible but unregistered citizens. These numbers are expected to increase as more states join the organization. The other 12 members of ERIC are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Follow us on Twitter using #electiondata and get the latest data dispatches, research, and news by subscribing today.

America’s Overdose Crisis
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
Quick View

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
Article

37 Scientists Pioneering the Future of Biomedical Research

Quick View
Article

Biomedical researchers are at the heart of nearly every medical advancement. From cutting-edge cancer treatments to breakthrough discoveries about emerging viruses, these scientists use creativity and ingenuity to explore new horizons in human health and medicine. And for nearly 40 years, The Pew Charitable Trusts has supported more than 1,000 early-career researchers committed to this work.

Voter Turnout
Voter Turnout
Article

Election Dispatches

Election administration by the numbers

Quick View
Article

Election Data Dispatches provides data, research and analysis about election administration in the U.S. While we link to external research data and other materials, we neither independently verify them, endorse the reports, nor affirm the authors' opinions.

Composite image of modern city network communication concept

Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

Sign up for our four-week email course on Broadband Basics

Quick View

How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?