PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 5, 2008) -- The presidential primary season has just ended and June deadlines loom for Rhode Island voters and would-be candidates in the upcoming primary and election, according to Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.
“Based on the record turnout in our presidential primary, we expect voters will be more engaged this year than ever before. A number of crucial dates in the election calendar are just around the corner. Ensuring our elections are accessible to those who vote and those who hope to serve is one of my priorities,” said Mollis.
Voters who are affiliated with the Democratic or Republican Party have until June 11 to disaffiliate if they plan on voting in a different party’s primary September 9. Voters can disaffiliate by contacting the board of canvassers in the city or town that is their legal residence. By state law, voters have 90 days before a primary, special election or general election to change or leave a political party.
A different deadline looms for Rhode Islanders who want to run for federal, state or local office. State law requires candidates to file official Declarations of Candidacy from June 23 -25.
Candidates for federal office must file declarations with the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 148 West River St., Providence. Would-be candidates for state and local offices must file with the board of canvassers in the city or town that is their legal residence.
Every key date leading up to Rhode Island’s primary and general election is included in a 28-page guidebook Mollis created to help campaigns, candidates and voters this year.
More than 213,000 voters turned out for Rhode Island’s March 4 presidential primary, which was nearly three times the number of voters who turned out for the state’s last competitive presidential primary in 2000.