Live Coverage: Polls close in RI's special election. Follow here for results.

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.

AP calls race for Gabe Amo

The Associated Press called the race for Amo at 8:10 p.m.

As of 8:08 p.m. on Tuesday, the Democrat had received 68.9% of the vote. His Republican challenger, Gerry Leonard, had 30.8% of the vote.

More: Polls are closed in Rhode Island: Here are the special election results

Early results already coming in

Early results show Gabe Amo starting with a commanding lead in Rhode Island's First Congressional District.

As of 8:08 p.m. on Tuesday, the Democrat had received 68.9 percent of the vote. His Republican challenger, Gerry Leonard, had 30.8 percent of the vote.

Amo, a Pawtucket native who previously served in the Biden administration, stands to be the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress.

As of 7:30 p.m., the Secretary of State’s unofficial turnout tracker indicated that over 73,000 people had voted in Tuesday’s special elections, including local elections for bond questions.

In one Centrall Falls polling location, only 50 voters cast their ballot

Turnout was slow Tuesday in the state's smallest city during the special election to replace retired Rep. David N. Cicilline in Rhode Island's First Congressional District.

By around 4:30 p.m., only some 50 voters had cast ballots at the Wilfrid Manor, while about 100 had done so at the Knights of Columbus, as the city only had three polling places for the special election.

Even though turnout was meager, that lack of enthusiasm didn't spread to Dianella Coll, who voted for Democrat Gabe Amo.

"I'm used to the routine of voting every November, said Coll. "I think our voice should be heard, and we should make a change for the good of the country and for the kids. And our voice matters."

She said she's especially concerned about developing better schools, where kids can feel safe.

Bob Bradley, chief of the Manville Fire Department in Lincoln, who lives in Central Falls, acknowledged that enthusiasm for Tuesday's election was low after a bumper crop of candidates ran in a September primary.

"I think there was a lot more interest in the primary," he said, largely because many were taking Tuesday's outcome for granted. "It's obvious Rhode Island is a Democratic state. It would have to be something way out of the norm to have a Republican take over."

Here's where voter turnout stands as the election draws to a close

As of 5 p.m., 38,493 Rhode Islanders had voted on election day, pushing the total turnout to 60,576, almost 15%.

Fear of government shutdown: Board of Elections asked to certify election 'as soon as possible'

Word has gone out from Washington to Rhode Island to certify the winner of Tuesday's 1st Congressional District election as quickly as possible, so all votes are in place in the U.S. House of Representatives to avert a potential government shutdown.

The details were sketchy.

But two high-level state elections staffers told the R.I. Board of Elections to meet on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the latest - even if some members cannot make it - to certify the winner in light of requests made by "the House of Representatives" to the board and the governor.

The board's lawyer Raymond Marcaccio put the stated concern this way: "The federal government may run out of money and ...they [may] close the business down of the government on the 17th... We would want to have our new congressperson seated before then [to] do whatever the state needs to do before that time."

"There's a concern with the timing to make sure that the person can fly down, get sworn in, and then be able to vote on Friday," Deputy Secretary of State Rob Rock said.

Federal appropriations will lapse at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 18 if there is no action, affecting a wide array of federal services and the government’s roughly 2 million civilian and military employees, according to the Washington Post. "The imminent funding deadline joins a to-do list on Capitol Hill that includes emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine, which also have no obvious path to passage amid fierce disputes among lawmakers."

Tracking turnout in Rhode Island's special election

As of 4:00 p.m., 33,004 Rhode Islanders had voted on Election Day, while 15,904 voted early and 6,179 sent mail ballots. The total turnout as of that time was 55,087 voters.

Why is RI having a special election?

Rhode Island House Rep. David Cicilline announced in February that he'd be resigning from Congress. His last day was June 1.

The unexpected move triggered a special election in Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, which covers the eastern portion of the state.

Providence's Temple Beth-El welcomes visitors as polling place in November's election

Around 1:30 in the afternoon, a small handful of voters trickled into Temple Beth-El to cast their ballots. The line moved efficiently, and the site was quiet. A man sat next to a Gabe Amo sign set out front.

Where do I vote in today's RI election? 

Voters can look up their designated polling station — and, view sample ballots — by logging into the Voter Information Center: vote.sos.ri.gov

Bond issue drives voters to the polls in Middletown

In both of Middletown’s consolidated polling locations, supporters and opponents of the $190 million school bond on this year’s ballot were holding signs and chatting with voters coming in and out of the polls. Town Councilor Peter Connerton held a sign in favor of the bond measure outside Middletown High School, saying he was hopeful the bond measure would pass.

“We have the need,” Connerton said. “In my opinion, I don’t think it's going to get to a situation where (the reimbursement rate) is sweeter than this.”

Just minutes away, at Gaudet Middle School, Former Middletown Town Councilor Antone Viveiros passed out pamphlets warning voters of the potential tax increase from the bond.

“I’d hate to see the people who made Middletown what it is today be dragged out of their houses because of unaffordable taxes,” Viveiros said.

In Pawtucket, 'every vote counts'

Brightening skies and warming temperatures saw steady, though modest turnout at the Slater Park Pavilion mid-morning Tuesday in the special election to replace retired Rep. David N. Cicilline in Rhode Island's First Congressional District.

While many pundits predicted the September primary would decide the race, voters at Slater Park wanted to have their say.

"Votes do matter, and every vote counts," said Agustinho Rainho after casting his ballot for Republican Gerry Leonard. "It's important. Being a son of an immigrant, I don't take it for granted."

"I think it's very important," said Joyce Bergeron, who voted for Democrat Gabe Amo. "I think you should vote for whoever's going into Congress."

Jim Smith said he voted because the country needs to change direction, especially when it comes to economic issues.

"Everybody sees it," said the 54-year-old FedEx truck driver. "Whether it's Democrat or Republican, everything's going down."

If nothing else, for Smith voting is the ticket to complaining about the state of things. "I can't bitch if I don't vote."

Which towns have ballot issues in the November Election?

Voters in nine Rhode Island communities —

• Barrington

• Bristol

• Cumberland

• East Greenwich

• Lincoln

• Middletown

• North Kingstown

• North Smithfield

• Warren

All in all, they are being asked to authorize a combined $1.1 billion in future spending.

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.

What's on the ballot in your town? Explaining bond issue, impact on taxes, and what they buy

How many polling places are open?

According to the Board Of Elections 96 polling places open Tuesday. There are 19 communities voting in the CD1. Some of those locations also are deciding on special referendums.

Additionally, North Kingstown and East Greenwich are holding special referendums but are not voting in the CD1 race.

Voting turnout in Barrington is much higher than the primary

At 11 o’clock 287 people had voted at the Barrington middle school. Precinct Moderator Ray Morris said that was the same number that had voted by 1 p.m. on primary day, signaling to him that more folks are turning out for the general election.

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?

Seth Magaziner weighs in on why today's special election is important to Rhode Island

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.

How many votes have been cast so far across the state?

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

Slow but steady turn out at Providence East Side voting location

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.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Election: Polls close in RI's special election. Results coming soon.