RI to examine long Election Day waits

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island officials say they will investigate why voters at some polling places had to endure long waits.  

The Providence Journal reports that a chief suspect is a new state law that increased by about half the number of voters at polling places.

Also under scrutiny are Rhode Island's new voter ID law, the number of poll workers and their training, voting machines and how mail ballots are counted.

Board of Elections Executive Director Robert Kando says that in the spring, the General Assembly increased the number of voters from 1,900 to 3,000 per polling place. The change appeared to have overwhelmed some precincts.

The board will review last week's voting to see if training and staffing levels need to be changed.