News and Events
Secretary Gorbea Hires Lammis J. Vargas as Deputy Secretary of State/Director of Administration
PROVIDENCE, RI - Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea today announced the appointment of Lammis J. Vargas as Deputy Secretary of State/Director of Administration. Vargas will be responsible for leading the Department of State's administrative functions including the divisions of Business Services,...
Gorbea Delivers New Transparency to Redistricting with Census Data Block Explorer
PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Island's once-a-decade redistricting process is underway, and Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is launching a new resource that brings added transparency to a process that greatly affects voter participation in Rhode Island.
Secretary Gorbea's interactive Census Data...
Defending Democracy: Secretary Gorbea Gathers 150 Election Officials, IT Experts, Law Enforcement for Cybersecurity Summit
PROVIDENCE, RI – Today Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea convened 150 elections and IT officials for Rhode Island's 2021 Cybersecurity Summit. The three-hour virtual forum gave elections officials from every Rhode Island community an opportunity to interact with national and statewide...
Secretary Gorbea Convenes First Meeting of RI 250th Commission
EAST GREENWICH, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea convened the inaugural meeting of the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial (RI 250th) Commission yesterday at the Varnum Memorial Armory in East Greenwich. The goals of the RI 250th Commission are to promote Rhode Island's unique role in the...
National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday 9/28
Secretary Gorbea to Rhode Islanders:
Check Your Voter Record on National Voter Registration Day
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is reminding Rhode Islanders that Tuesday, September 28, is National Voter Registration Day. Held on the fourth Tuesday of September, National...
Secretary Gorbea Launches RI Census Data Explorer
PROVIDENCE, RI – With the recent release of redistricting data from the 2020 U.S. Census, Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea has launched the Rhode Island Census Data Explorer. This interactive online resource allows users to explore more than two centuries of Rhode Island census data down to the...
Secretary Gorbea Launches RI Census Data Explorer
PROVIDENCE, RI – With the recent release of redistricting data from the 2020 U.S. Census, Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea has launched the Rhode Island Census Data Explorer. This interactive online resource allows users to explore more than two centuries of Rhode Island census data down to the...
Two Special Elections Scheduled in Central Falls
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is providing the following schedule for two upcoming special elections in Central Falls. The first is a special election to fill a seat on the City Council in Ward 3. The second is a special bond referendum election that would authorize up to $5,...
Dates Set for RI Senate District 3 Special Election
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is providing the following schedule for an upcoming special election in Rhode Island Senate District 3 to fill former Senator Gayle Goldin's vacant seat. Senator Goldin resigned Tuesday to accept a position in the Biden-Harris administration....
Secretary Gorbea Announces Updated COVID-19 Protocols
PROVIDENCE, RI – With an increased rate of COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island, Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is announcing several updates to Department of State protocols to ensure the continued safety of staff and the public.
Rhode Island's rate of community transmission is currently "high"...
Secretary Gorbea Statement on President Biden's Voting Rights Speech
"Today I echo the words of President Biden: "The power must always be with the people." Throughout my career I have worked to increase civic participation. As Rhode Island Secretary of State, I have enacted reforms and modernized elections to improve access to the ballot box for every eligible...
Secretary Gorbea Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Voting Restrictions
"Your constitutional right to vote should never be affected by your zip code or the color of your skin. Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a deeply disappointing decision that weakens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This decision makes it increasingly difficult to legally challenge...
Secretary Gorbea Honors Local Civic Leaders at State House
PROVIDENCE, RI – Today Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea honored six Rhode Islanders with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award in a ceremony at the Rhode Island State House. The NASS Medallion Award is given annually by Secretaries of State to recognize...
Secretary Gorbea, AG Neronha Warn Consumers of "COVID-19 Safe Drive to Work" Text Message Scam
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea and Attorney General Peter F. Neronha are warning Rhode Islanders of a series of scam text messages that have been reported this weekend, claiming to be from the Rhode Island Department of State. The scam messages encourage Rhode Islanders to...
Secretary Gorbea Statement on House Passage of Cybersecurity Bill
"Today the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved 2021-H 6042, a bill that will help ensure that our state remains a national leader in election security. This bill codifies many of our best practices during the incredibly successful 2020 election cycle and includes security measures such...
Rhode Island State Archives Kicks Off Summer 2021 Programming
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea and the Rhode Island State Archives are excited to welcome the public into the new Archives location at 33 Broad Street in Providence on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning today. To celebrate this reopening, Secretary Gorbea and the...
Statement by Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea on House Passage of Rhode Island 250th Commission Bill
"Tonight the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted unanimously to approve H.6002 and the creation of the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial (RI 250th) Commission. This bill will allow our state to promote its unique role in the founding of our country and stimulate our local economy through...
Secretary Gorbea to Reopen Department Offices June 1
PROVIDENCE, RI – Today Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea announced that Department of State offices outside of the State House will fully reopen to the public on Tuesday, June 1. Previously, an appointment was required to access in-person services. This reopening includes the Business Services...
Dates Set for Providence City Council & West Warwick Town Council Special Elections
PROVIDENCE, RI –Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is providing the following schedule for upcoming special elections to fill vacancies on the Providence City Council (Ward 15) and West Warwick Town Council (Ward 5). Potential candidates are encouraged to note that the declaration of candidacy...
Secretary Gorbea Statement on Census Bureau Data Release
Today is a prime example of why community advocacy matters. Not only has Rhode Island retained our representation in Congress and our four Electoral College votes – we have also ensured our share of billions of dollars in federal funding each year.
Thank you to the Rhode Island Complete Count...
Secretary Gorbea Statement on President Biden's Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
"Today, the Armenian community stops to remember the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide and I encourage all Rhode Islanders to join me in also pausing to acknowledge this dark moment in our world history. The atrocities committed by the Turkish Ottoman Empire beginning 106 years ago led to the...
Statement from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea on Confirmation of Sabina Matos as Lt. Governor
"Congratulations to Sabina Matos on her historic confirmation as Rhode Island's next Lieutenant Governor. Our best public policies come when we have a variety of backgrounds and opinions around the policy-making table, and I look forward to having another woman of color included in these...
Statement from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea on Confirmation of Sabina Matos as Lt. Governor
"Congratulations to Sabina Matos on her historic confirmation as Rhode Island's next Lieutenant Governor. Our best public policies come when we have a variety of backgrounds and opinions around the policy-making table, and I look forward to having another woman of color included in these...
Mail Ballot Application Deadline for Four Special Elections is Tuesday 4/13
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is reminding Rhode Islanders that the deadline to submit mail ballot applications for four upcoming special elections is Tuesday, April 13. Mail ballot applications must be received by election officials by 4 p.m. on April 13, not postmarked....
Secretary Gorbea Warns RI Businesses of Misleading Mailing Charging Excessive Fees
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is warning Rhode Island businesses of a misleading mailing from a company calling itself "Rhode Island Certificate Services," with a Providence return address. The company is based in Florida and is targeting newly formed Rhode Island businesses.
News Contact:
Nick Domings
Deputy Communications Director
401-330-3189
Email: [email protected]