Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis announces where the candidates to fill former Warwick state Rep. Peter Ginaitt’s seat and a slew of Jamestown municipal posts will appear on the special primary and election ballots.
Mollis invited the public to attend three lotteries for ballot placement at his Providence office Sept. 28.
“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 than the opportunity to see for themselves how the process unfolds,” said Mollis.
As the endorsed Democratic candidate in Warwick’s House District 22, by state law Edgar Ladouceur will be listed first on the ballot for the Democratic special primary election Oct. 23. Frank Ferri won the lottery to appear second on the Democratic ballot. Olin Thompson will appear third.
Warwick Democrats won a second lottery to determine the order in which the candidates will be listed on the ballot for the Nov. 27 general election. The winner of the Democratic primary will appear first, followed by Republican Jonathan Wheeler. Independent Carlo Pisaturo will appear third because by state law the so-called “recognized parties” are listed first on ballots.
As a result of a third lottery, a Democrat will be listed first on the ballot in the races for Jamestown town moderator, school committee and town council in the general election Nov. 6.
According to the town of Jamestown's practice, the names of Democratic candidates will alternate with those of Republican candidates until every candidate for a particular office has been listed.
Rhode Island’s general laws give the Secretary of State the authority to set the calendar and hold lotteries to determine ballot placement for special primary elections and special elections under certain circumstances.