PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis today released the official 2010 "How to Run of Office" guide, which gives Rhode Islanders thinking about being a candidate in this year's elections a primer covering all the key milestones and deadlines.
“Overseeing Rhode Island’s record-breaking elections in 2008 was an honor. We set new highs for voter registrations and turnout. I hope the excitement carries over to 2010,” said Mollis, who just last week reviewed campaign ABCs for about 150 would-be office-holders at Operation Clean Government’s Candidates School.
More offices will be on the ballot this year than in 2008. The races range from town council to Governor of Rhode Island to the U.S. House of Representatives. There is no race for U.S. Senate this year.
The first crucial deadline is coming up soon. Candidates who are affiliated with one of the state’s three recognized parties – Democratic, Republican or Moderate – have until April 1 to change their party affiliation if they plan to run under a different party’s banner.
Anyone thinking about running for office must register to vote no later than May 28. Candidates must officially announce their intention to run for office by filing declarations of candidacy from June 28-30. Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and other statewide offices such as attorney general must file the declarations with the secretary of state’s office. Anyone planning to run for state or local office must file with the board of canvassers in the city or town that is their legal residence.
The next important milestone is July 7 through July 16, when candidates must collect the signatures of enough eligible voters to officially put them on the ballot. The threshold ranges from 50 signatures for the state House of Representatives to 500 for the U.S. House of Representatives and most statewide offices to 1,000 signatures for governor.
Rhode Islanders have until Aug. 14 to register to vote in order to cast ballots in the Sept. 14 state primary. Oct. 2 is the deadline for registering to vote in the general election Nov. 2.
The guide even outlines campaign finance requirements – including the April 30 deadline for candidates for state and local office to submit their first-quarter financial disclosure reports – and lists contact information for election officials in every city and town.
The guide is posted on the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.ri.gov. Hardcopies of the 32-page booklet are available upon request. #######