PROVIDENCE, R.I. (July 1, 2008) – Rhode Islanders should not be surprised to find politicians knocking on their door over the next 10 days.
"Beginning today candidates can start asking the public to sign nominating papers to put them on the ballot for the upcoming primary and general election," said Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.
State law gives candidates until July 11 to collect the signatures of enough eligible voters to officially clear the way for them to run. The threshold ranges from 50 signatures for the state House of Representatives and many municipal offices to 1,000 signatures for the U.S. Senate.
“All signs show Rhode Islanders to be more enthusiastic than ever about this election cycle. The involvement in the presidential primary held in March showed that Rhode Islanders care about our country’s future and are willing to make their voices heard,” said Mollis.
The Secretary of State has until July 18 to certify the nominating papers in order for candidates to officially be placed on the ballot for the September 9 primary and November 4 election.
“We wouldn’t be surprised to find there will be more signatures to certify than ever before,” said Mollis. More than 2,800 Rhode Islanders filed official declarations of candidacy announcing their intention to run for federal, state or local office by last week’s deadline.
That follows a record turnout in March’s presidential primary. More than 213,000 voters cast ballots, which was nearly three times the number of voters who turned out for the state’s last competitive presidential primary in 2000.
The next milestone in the state’s election calendar is July 14, which marks the deadline for the public to file objections to the eligibility of local candidates. It also is the last chance for those candidates to withdraw their candidacy. Local boards of canvassers must rule on any objections to a candidate’s signatures by July 16.
July 18 is the last chance for the public to file objections to the eligibility of candidates running at the state and federal level. It is also the last chance for those candidates to withdraw from the race. At the end of the day, Mollis will hold a public lottery at the State House to determine the order in which unendorsed candidates for Congress and the General Assembly will appear on primary ballots. The lottery will also determine the order in which recognized political parties and independent candidates will appear on the ballot for November's election.
Many of the necessary forms as well as a calendar with every key date leading up to Rhode Island’s primary and general election are posted on Mollis’ website.
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 about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit www.sec.state.ri.us.