PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea announced today that there will be a special election in Senate District 13 to fill the seat of former Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Senate District 13 includes parts of Newport and Jamestown.
"I appreciate President Paiva Weed's longstanding service to the people of Rhode Island and her leadership in the Senate," Secretary Gorbea said. "We are working closely with the Board of Elections and the Newport and Jamestown Boards of Canvassers to make sure that eligible voters in Senate District 13 can elect their new representative in state government in an election process that is fair, fast, and accurate."
State law authorizes the Secretary of State to order a special election to fill a vacancy. The declaration period for candidates interested in running for the Senate District 13 seat will take place on June 8 and 9, 2017. A special Primary election will take place on July 18, 2017 if more than one candidate from either party qualifies for the ballot.
Special Election Calendar:
April 19: Deadline to disaffiliate in order to vote in the primary
May 10: Deadline for candidates to register to vote to be able to run for office
June 8-9: Deadline for candidates to file Declarations of Candidacy with their local board of canvassers
June 12: Deadline for endorsements to be filed by party district committees
June 18: Last day to register to vote for the primary
June 20: Deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers to local boards of canvassers
June 27: Last day to submit a mail ballot application for the primary
June 28 - July 17: Emergency ballot period for the primary
July 18: PRIMARY
July 23: Last day to register to vote for the election
August 1: Last day to submit a mail ballot application for the election
August 2 - August 21: Emergency ballot period for the election
August 22: ELECTION