PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding Woonsocket residents that two crucial deadlines loom in the upcoming elections for city council and school committee.
Sept. 10 is the deadline to register to vote in the Oct. 11 primary, if one is necessary. Woonsocket residents can register at city hall on weekdays during normal business hours. Even though the Sept. 10 deadline falls on a Saturday, the Woonsocket Board of Canvassers has arranged for residents to be able to register to vote at the Woonsocket Harris Public Library from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Under state law, Rhode Islanders must be registered at least 30 days prior to an election in order to be eligible to cast a ballot. In order to register and vote in the primary, you must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Woonsocket and a U.S. citizen.
In addition to first-time voters, the deadline also applies to voters who have moved or changed their names recently. State law requires voters to update their voter-registration records at least 30 days before an election.
Sept. 20 is the deadline to request a mail ballot for the primary. Completed mail ballots must be received by the Woonsocket Board of Canvassers by 9 p.m. Oct. 11.
Voter-registration forms and mail-ballot applications can be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website at sos.ri.gov/elections.
To qualify to appear on the ballot, would-be candidates must submit the signatures of at least 100 Woonsocket voters to the Board of Canvassers by 4 p.m., Sept. 20.
Voters will know whether there will be a primary for school committee and city council by Sept. 23, which is the deadline for the Board to certify the signatures. No mayoral primary is necessary because just two candidates filed official Declarations of Candidacy by the Aug. 30 deadline.
As Secretary of State, Mollis oversees many aspects of federal, state and municipal elections held in Rhode Island. His office also publishes guidebooks that include important dates in the election calendar as well as outline how to run for office and how to register and vote.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information elections and voting, visit sos.ri.gov/elections.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Barnett at 222-4293 or cbarnett@sos.ri.gov