Live Coverage: It’s election day. Here’s what to know.

Today’s voting is the capstone to an election cycle kicked off by David Cicilline’s decision to relinquish his seat in the House of Representatives back in February. A crowded Democratic primary eliminated several candidates. Rhode Islanders will now decide who will join Seth Magaziner as a Rhode Island House Rep. – Gabe Amo, the Democratic nominee, or Gerry Leonard Jr., the Republican nominee.

In addition to the Congressional race, several local communities are voting on important bond issues. Most of those towns are proposing to build new state-of-the-art schools or overhaul existing educational facilities, and hoping to seize the fleeting opportunity to get a large chunk of their costs reimbursed by the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Where do the candidates stand on all major issues?

The Providence Journal surveyed candidates in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District about their views on aid to Israel, the death penalty, protecting Social Security, and more.

We got responses from Gabe Amo, the Democratic nominee, and Gerry Leonard Jr., the Republican nominee.

Both candidates were given a written questionnaire. Responses were capped at 100 words and have been edited only to conform with Associated Press style.

Here’s a guide: Where the CD1 special election candidates stand on current issues?

Freshman Congressman Seth Magaziner has been the lone voice for Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives since David Cicilline quit in June for a job at a non-profit.

Asked on Monday about the importance of filling the open 1st Congressional District seat that Cicilline vacated mid-term, Democrat Magaziner pivoted to the reasons he thinks it is important that Democrat Gabe Amo win the seat in Tuesday’s off-year election:

“Given the pressing issues facing our state and country, it is crucial that Gabe Amo be elected to Congress so he can join the rest of our state’s delegation as we focus on lowering costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and defending abortion rights.

“In the coming weeks,” Magaziner added, the House will be voting on crucial measures to keep the government open, support our allies in Israel and Ukraine and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. Every vote will count.” 

Whoever wins Tuesday/s special election – Amo or Republican Gerry Leonard – is expected to be sworn in sometime during the week of Nov. 13.

As for Cicilline, now the president and CEO of the non-profit Rhode Island Foundation, he is headlining a fundraiser this Friday at Bally’s Twin River Casino in Lincoln to raise money for the R.I. Democratic Party.

As of 10 a.m. on election day, 30,819 votes had been cast, representing 7.6% of the potential vote in the 1st Congressional District.

That included: 15,904 early in-person votes, 5,996 of the 7,728 mail ballots provided in advance to voters who requested them, and 8,919 election-day voters at the polls.

With reports by Kathy Gregg, Journal Staff

At Providence’s Martin Luther King School on Camp Street, voting was slow. With more than a dozen voting stations set up, most sat empty as a trickle of citizens turned up to cast their ballot in the race between Gabe Amo and Gerry Leonard Jr.

During the primary in September, a variety of supporters for numerous candidates stood outside the polling place encouraging voters and rooting for their candidate. This time, the sidewalks were empty, with only a few signs to tell those out on the dreary Tuesday that today is election day.

As one voter walked out of the gymnasium she exclaimed, “Easy. Fast.”

Shortly after 10:00 a.m. 159 ballots had been cast a the East Side location.

‘It’s been great’: Busy day at the Middletown voting booth.

A steady stream of voters cast ballots at Gaudet Middle School in Middletown Tuesday morning, where a $190 million bond question would be determined, along with CD1 race. As of 9:20 a.m. 184 ballots had been cast at the joint polling location.

“It’s been great,” Town Clerk Wendy Marshall said. “It’s been very busy here and at the other polling location. It’s great to see people get out and vote.”

Will I need an ID to vote in Rhode Island?

Yes. Voters need to present an ID, which can be a driver’s license, passport, Rhode Island Voter ID Card or another form of identification listed here: vote.sos.ri.gov/Content/Pdfs/voter_id_information.pdf

When are polls open on Election Day? 

Polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in every city and town except New Shoreham, where poll hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.