PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding residents of Central Falls, Providence and Woonsocket that tomorrow., Sept. 5, is the deadline to register to vote in primaries next month.
“Be prepared to make your voice heard. Voting is the best opportunity most of us have to have a say in the future of our community," said Mollis.
The primaries are scheduled for Tues., Oct. 6, if necessary. State law requires voters to be registered at least 30 days prior to a primary.
Because the deadline to register falls on a Saturday, Central Falls City Hall will be open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Woonsocket City Hall will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Providence City Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to noon. In addition to helping residents register for the first time, election officials will help voters who have moved or changed their names update their voter records as required by state law.
"If you are not sure whether you are registered to vote or whether your voter registration information is up to date, you can look up your record on our website," said Mollis.
Central Falls officials could know by late this afternoon whether a primary will be necessary. Today is the deadline for candidates for mayor and city council to submit nominating papers. Candidates for mayor must submit the signatures of at least 200 certified city voters and candidates for city council must submit at least 50.
The deadline is Sept. 15 in Woonsocket, where candidates for mayor, city council and school committee must submit at least 100 signatures. Candidates for the House District 10 seat of the late Tom Slater in Providence have until Sept. 8 to submit at least 50 signatures.
Oct. 3 is the deadline for registering to vote in the Nov. 3 elections in Central Falls and Woonsocket. In Providence, House District 10 residents have until Oct. 10 to register to vote in the Nov. 10 election. In order to register to vote, you must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen.
As Secretary of State, Mollis oversees many aspects of federal, state and municipal elections held in Rhode Island. His office also publishes guidebooks that include important dates in the election cycle as well as outline how to run for office and how to register to vote.
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 registering to vote or checking that your voter registration record is up to date, visit www.sec.state.ri.us/elections.
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