Elections

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Upcoming Elections - Important Dates and Deadlines 

The next election in Newport is the September 9, 2026 Statewide Primary. Please, note this election will take place on the Wednesday after Labor Day this year. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. 

Important Dates and Deadlines for Voters:

• June 30 - The candidate nomination period begins. Declared candidates will begin circulating nomination paper petitions to collect voter signatures to qualify for placement on the ballot.
• July 10 - Nomination papers are due to the Canvassing Office by 4:00 p.m.
• July 13 - 4:00 p.m. deadline to file objections to candidates for local office at the Canvassing Office.
• July 15 - Deadline for Canvassing Authority decisions on objections to candidates for local office. 
• July 15 - Ballot Placement Lottery at 11:30 a.m. Canvassing Authority meeting. The public is welcome to attend. 
• August 10 - Deadline to register to vote or change you party affiliation to vote in party primaries. Unaffiliated voters can choose to vote in either party's primary without it affecting their party affiliation. 
• August 19 - 4:00 p.m. deadline to submit application to the Canvassing Office in order to vote by mail in the primary. 
• August 19 - 4:00 p.m. deadline to file affidavit of names erroneously included or omitted from the voter list with the Canvassing Office. The Canvassing Authority will review any affidavits at their 4:00 p.m. open meeting of the Final Canvass. 
• August 20 - Early voting begins in the second-floor conference room of Newport City Hall and emergency mail ballots are available in the Canvassing Office. Early voting and emergency mail ballots will continue during regular business hours until 4:00 on September 8th. 
• August 26 - Extended early voting hours at City Hall until the 6:30 p.m. Council Meeting
• August 28 - After today, voters with a mail ballot should consider utilizing the official drop box in front of City Hall to return their ballot if they are able to do so instead of mailing it back through the postal system. 
• September 8 - Final day of early voting and emergency mail ballots which end at 4:00 p.m.
• September 9 - Statewide Primary Day (please note, this year the primaries will take place on the Wednesday after Labor Day) - polling locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters can locate the designed polling location here.
• September 9 - 8:00 p.m. deadline to return mail ballots to the Canvassing Office, the official mail ballot drop box in front of City Hall, or to a light blue mail ballot receptable at a local polling place.
• September 10 - 4:00 p.m. deadline for candidates to submit recount requests to the State Board of Elections
• September 11 - Local candidate certification for the general election ballot
• September 14 - 4:00 p.m. deadline to receive military and overseas mail ballots at the State Board of Elections, and for voters to rectify deficient mail ballots.
• October 4 - Deadline to register to vote for the General Election
• October 13 - 4:00 p.m. deadline to submit application to the Canvassing Office in order to vote by mail in the General Election. 
• October 13 - 4:00 p.m. deadline to file affidavit of names erroneously included or omitted from the voter list with the Canvassing Office. The Canvassing Authority will review any affidavits at their 4:00 p.m. open meeting of the Final Canvass.  
• October 14 -  Early voting begins in the second-floor conference room of Newport City Hall and emergency mail ballots are available in the Canvassing Office. Early voting and emergency mail ballots will continue during regular business hours until 4:00 on November 2nd.
• October 28 -  Extended early voting hours at City Hall until the 6:30 p.m. Council Meeting
• November 2 -  Final day of early voting and emergency mail ballots which end at 4:00 p.m.
• November 3 - Election Day - polling locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voters can locate their designed polling location here.
• November 3 -  8:00 p.m. deadline to return mail ballots to the Canvassing Office, the official mail ballot drop box in front of City Hall, or to a light blue mail ballot receptable at a local polling place.
• November 10 - 4:00 p.m. deadline to receive military and overseas mail ballots, and for voters to rectify deficient mail bllots with the State Board of Elections
• November 12 - 4:00 p.m. deadline for local candidates to submit recount requests to the State Board of Elections
• November 23 - 11:30 a.m. meeting of the Canvassing Authority to certify local election results
• December 1 - New Council and School Committee are sworn into office.