2020 Rhode Island Question 1

Question 1
Changing the Official Name of the State
Results
Yes 70–80% 60–70% 50–60%	No 60–70% 50–60%
	Source: Associated Press[1]

Question 1 was a 2020 ballot measure in Rhode Island to change the official name of the state from State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations to State of Rhode Island. The proposal passed with 53% of the vote.[2]

Background

The state was officially named the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" when it declared statehood in 1790. Over time it became commonly known as simply "Rhode Island". In June 2020, Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to remove the phrase "Providence Plantations" from all official state documents.[3] Raimondo wrote "the pain that this association causes to some of our residents should be of concern to all Rhode Islanders and we should do everything in our power to ensure that all communities can take pride in our state", referring to the ties of the word "plantations" to American slavery. However, changing the state's full official name required a state constitutional amendment that needed to be approved by voters.[4]

Results

Question 1[5]
Choice	Votes	%
Yes	247,261	53.12
No	218,175	46.88
Total votes	465,436	100.00

References

"Election Results". Associated Press. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
O'Kane, Caitlin (November 4, 2020). "Rhode Island votes to change state's full name after criticism over slavery connotations". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
DaSilva, Melanie; Doiron, Sarah (June 22, 2020). "Raimondo signs executive order removing 'Providence Plantations' from official documents". WPRI.COM 12. Providence, Rhode Island: Nexstar Inc. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
Evelyn, Kenya (June 24, 2020). "Rhode Island moves to change official name over slavery ties". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
"2020 General Election statewide summary". Rhode Island Board of Elections. November 30, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.

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[apliveresults-1] "Election Results". Associated Press. Retrieved November 5, 2020.

[2] O'Kane, Caitlin (November 4, 2020). "Rhode Island votes to change state's full name after criticism over slavery connotations". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.

[3] DaSilva, Melanie; Doiron, Sarah (June 22, 2020). "Raimondo signs executive order removing 'Providence Plantations' from official documents". WPRI.COM 12. Providence, Rhode Island: Nexstar Inc. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.

[4] Evelyn, Kenya (June 24, 2020). "Rhode Island moves to change official name over slavery ties". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.

[5] "2020 General Election statewide summary". Rhode Island Board of Elections. November 30, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.