By Paul Edward Parker
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Board of Elections has ended its drive to count all mail ballots by the close of business Wednesday.
Instead, the panel will resume the count Thursday, according to Robert Rapoza, director of elections.
The board began counting the mail ballots at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, using four counting machines to cope with the volume. The count paused about 11 p.m., Rapoza said, because the staff had been at work since 6 a.m. and needed rest.
Before Election Day, some 18,000 mail ballots had been certified and opened, and were ready to count on Election Day. State law bars starting the count before Election Day.
-- An earlier version of this report was published at 1:35 p.m.