Rhode Island’s only 2020 ballot referendum has passed. Voters have approved the measure which will shorten the state’s full name from “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” to “State of Rhode Island.”
Advocates of the change had asserted that the presence of the word “planation” was racially insensitive, as it was reminiscent of slavery. Those opposed to the change had claimed that “plantations” was not related to slavery and referred to an earlier period in which early residents, including state founder Roger Williams, settled the area and built large farms worked by fellow settlers and their families.
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo had already taken steps this year to shorten the name on all state documents. Voters previously rejected a referendum to remove “plantations” from the state name in 2010.At that time, the vote was a landslide, with over 70% of voters rejecting the change.
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