Rhode Island 2022 ballot measures

2022 U.S. state; ballot measures
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2022 Rhode Island; Ballot Measures
	2024 » « 2021

Three statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in Rhode Island for the election on November 8, 2022. All three were approved.

HIGHLIGHTS

Three bond issues were certified for the 2022 ballot totaling $400 million.

Between 2008 and 2021, voters in Rhode Island had decided 29 bond measures totaling $1.7 billion ($1,710,915,000) in principal value. Voters approved 100% of the bond measures, with support ranging from 55.23% (Question 2 of 2010) to 83.89% (Question 3 of 2016).

On the ballot[edit]

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Question 1	Issue $100 million in bonds for the University of Rhode Island Narragansett Bay Campus marine discipline educational and research needs	a	197,087 (58%)	145,055 (42%)
BI	Question 2	Issue $250 million in bonds for construction and renovation of state public school buildings	a	252,383 (73%)	91,943 (27%)
BI	Question 3	Issues $50 million in bonds for environmental and recreational purposes	a	228,228 (67%)	113,144 (33%)

Getting measures on the ballot[edit]

See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Rhode Island

Rhode Island does not allow the initiative and referendum process. The Rhode Island State Legislature can refer constitutional amendments, statutes, and bond issues to the ballot for voter consideration.

Referring a constitutional amendment to the ballot requires a simple majority vote of each legislative chamber during one session. Referring a statute or bond issue also requires a simple majority vote of each legislative chamber during one session.

Historical facts[edit]

See also: List of Rhode Island ballot measures

In Rhode Island, a total of 163 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2021. One hundred twenty-eight ballot measures were approved, and 35 ballot measures were defeated.

Rhode Island statewide ballot measures, 1985-2021
Total number	Annual average	Annual minimum	Annual maximum	Approved		Defeated
Total number	Annual average	Annual minimum	Annual maximum	#	%	#	%
163	3.19	0	14	128	78.53	35	21.47

Local ballot measures[edit]

See also: Rhode Island 2022 local ballot measures

Click here to read more about 2022 local ballot measures in Rhode Island.

Not on the ballot[edit]

Type	Title	Subject	Description
LRCA	Procedure for Filling Secretary of State, Attorney General, or Treasurer Vacancies Amendment	State executive officials	Changes the procedure for filling vacancies for the offices of secretary of state, attorney general, and treasurer
LRCA	Right to an Adequate Education Amendment	Constitutional rights and Education	Amends the state constitution to "guarantee an equitable, adequate and meaningful education to each child"
LRCA	Changes to Filling Secretary of State, Attorney General, or Treasurer Vacancies Amendment	State executive officials	Changes the procedure for filling vacancies for the offices of secretary of state, attorney general, and treasurer
LRCA	Right to Education Amendment	Education	Establish a "fundamental right to a public education and the duty to promote publicl libraries"
BI	Zoo Capital Improvements Bond Measure	Bond issue	Issue $12 million in bonds for capital improvements to the Roger Williams Park Zoo

State profile[edit]

Demographic data for Rhode Island
	Rhode Island	U.S.
Total population:	1,055,607	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	1,034	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	81.1%	73.6%
Black/African American:	6.5%	12.6%
Asian:	3.2%	5.1%
Native American:	0.5%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.8%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	13.6%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	86.2%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	31.9%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$56,852	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	17.3%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Rhode Island. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in Rhode Island

Rhode Island voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Rhode Island, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.^[1]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Rhode Island had one Boomerang Pivot County, 4.00 percent of all Boomerang Pivot Counties.

More Rhode Island coverage on Ballotpedia

External links[edit]

Rhode Island Board of Elections

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