PROVIDENCE, RI – Can't get to the State House today to see Rhode Island's Electoral College ceremony? The Secretary of State's office will use Twitter to give the public a behind-the-scenes look at the historic vote.
Coverage on @ralphmollis will begin at 11 a.m. The ceremony will begin at noon when the Kentish Guards dressed in colonial military garb escort the four presidential electors, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, Governor Chafee, the state's Congressional delegation and other dignitaries to the House Chamber, where the ceremony will take place.
The Twitter feed will supplement live coverage of the ceremony by Capitol TV on Channel 15 on Cox Cable and Full Channel and Channel 34 on Verizon beginning at noon.
Federal law requires the Electoral Colleges in every state and the District of Columbia to convene today to cast ballots for president and vice president. Selected by the state Democratic Party, Rhode Island's electors are state Rep.-elect Marvin L. Abney of Newport, Emily A. Maranjian of Providence, L. Susan Weiner of East Greenwich and Mark S. Weiner of East Greenwich.
The national vote will not be official until Jan. 6, 2013, when Vice President Biden will preside over a joint session of Congress. The ballots of the electors from each state will be opened in alphabetical order by state and read aloud to Congress.
The Secretary of State's office shares responsibility for staging elections with municipal boards of canvassers and the state Board of Elections. The Secretary of State's office prepares ballots, maintains the statewide voter registration database, encourages voter registration and turnout and creates guides to running for office and voting. The state Board of Elections oversees the delivery of ballots, maintenance of voting equipment and training of poll workers. Local boards of canvassers select polling places and poll workers.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, making it easier to do business in Rhode Island and making government more open and accessible. For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit sos.ri.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Barnett at 222-4293
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