PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The candidates to fill former state Rep. Betsy Dennigan’s seat will find out this Monday where they will appear on the Dec. 29 ballot, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis announced today.
Mollis has scheduled a public lottery for ballot placement at his Division of Elections, 148 West River St., Providence, at 4:30 p.m. this Monday.
“I campaigned for this office on a pledge to make government more transparent. There is nothing that will give voters more faith in the fairness of their elections that the opportunity to see for themselves how the process unfolds,” said Mollis.
The lottery will determine the order in which Democrat Mary Duffy Messier of Pawtucket and Republican Thomas Clupny of East Providence will appear on the ballot in the special election. Independent Paul Dinsmore of East Providence will appear third because state law requires candidates from major political parties to be listed first on ballots.
The special election became necessary when Dennigan resigned House District 62 seat on Oct. 1. The district stretches along the eastern bank of the Seekonk River in East Providence and Pawtucket.
While there will be no primary, there are several other crucial dates leading up to the Dec. 29 election. Nov. 28 is the deadline for registering to vote and mail ballots must be requested by Dec. 8.
For more information about the programs and services offered by Rhode Island’s Secretary of State, visit www.sec.state.ri.us.
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