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Debate in Rhode Island over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Rhode Island in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Rhode Island

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Rhode Island.

  • Governor Gina Raimondo (D) (12 WPRI): Governor Gina Raimondo said reopening needed to be a slow but balanced process to protect public health while giving businesses flexibility.

    "I am trying to balance giving businesses flexibility, so they can do their business and keep an eye on their costs, and public health needs. So to that end, there will be certain things that are requirements, and then other things that are suggestions or guidelines." - "Raimondo set to decide if she will lift the stay-at-home order in RI," May 7, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Rhode Island

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Rhode Island.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Rhode Island

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Rhode Island.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over election policy in Rhode Island

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Rhode Island.

  • Board of Elections Vice Chairman Stephen Erickson (Providence Journal): "I am concerned that this is part of a nationally coordinated partisan effort to prevent efficient use of mail ballots in the fall if the pandemic continues. ... It is clear that this statement is an attack on the emergency authority of the Governor in general. The lines of authority are murky here, but if the BOE, the [secretary of state] and the Governor all agree on emergency steps, any possible objection is moot. ... The BOE has made it clear that these changes are for the primary only. No precedent is being set for the fall primaries or November election in any way." - "R.I. GOP warns of potential mail ballot fraud in presidential primary," April 14, 2020.

  • Rhode Island Republican Party (Republican Party of Rhode Island): "For the record, the RIGOP opposes the suspension of laws that require: (1) valid mail ballots to include the signature of a notary public or two witnesses ... and (2) voters to provide proof of identity. ... Neither Governor Gina Raimondo through her Executive Order 20-11 nor the BOE has the legal authority under the Rhode Island Constitution or Rhode Island General Laws to suspend laws essential to the integrity of an election. To the extent Governor Raimondo or her appointees has the legal authority to suspend election laws, only limited aspects of election laws should be suspended. Laws essential to ballot integrity, such as those requiring mail ballots to either be notarized or witnessed by two individuals, should not be completely suspended because they can be applied in a manner consistent with public health, especially for what is likely to be a lowturnout election to be held on June 2, 2020." - "COMMENTS OF THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY," April 14, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Rhode Island

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Rhode Island)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Rhode Island.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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Articles by Type
Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
State responses to coronavirus
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