Rhode Island

Group shares app idea to inform voters of peak poll times

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - University of Rhode Island students and professors have presented a report on voter data they hope can be used in an app to inform voters of peak times at the polls.

The Boston Globe reports that professor Gretchen Macht and students presented the idea to the state Elections Board last week.

Macht, who directs the URI Votes project, says the app could use past and current data to let voters know when polling places are crowded.

The project received funding for research after it took some people more than two hours to vote at some polling sites in 2016.

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea says there are no definitive plans for a voter app, but the data and technology allows for rethinking how to improve the voter experience.