2020 Rhode Island Question 1

The state was officially named the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" when it declared statehood in 1790. Over time it became commonly known as simply "Rhode Island".

The General Assembly voted in 2009 to hold a referendum in November 2010 on removing "and Providence Plantations" from the official name. Supporters of the change argued that the word "plantation" is associated in modern English with slavery, while opponents pointed out that "plantation" in this context is simply an archaic synonym of "colony" or "settlement". The people voted overwhelmingly (78% to 22%) against the change.^[3]

In June 2020, Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to remove the phrase "Providence Plantations" from all official state documents.^[4] Raimondo wrote, "Many of the State's residents find it painful that a word so closely associated with slavery should appear in the official name of the State [...] the pain that this association causes to some of our residents should be of concern to all Rhode Islanders and we should do everything in our power to ensure that all communities can take pride in our State[.]"^[5] However, changing the state's full official name required a state constitutional amendment that needed to be approved by voters.^[6] Raimondo "urge[d] the voters to approve the name change".^[5]