100-RICR-20-00-1. Placement of Candidates and Local Referenda/Questions on Election Ballots (version Adoption, 05/23/2007 to 03/20/2018)

RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN CONNECTION WITH INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS QUALIFYING FOR BALLOT PLACEMENT, ACCEPTANCE OF NAMES OF PARTY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, AND ACCEPTANCE OF NAMES OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES PURSUANT TO TITLE 17 OF THE GENERAL LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND _________________________________________________________________________________ The Secretary of State has promulgated the within rules and regulations relative to the qualifying of independent presidential electors for ballot placement and the receipt of the names of party presidential electors, and the acceptance for ballot placement of the names of all candidates for president and vice-president in accordance with the provisions of Chapters 12 and 14 of Title 17 of the Rhode Island General Laws of 1956, as amended. Said rules and regulations are established pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act (R.I.G.L. Section 42-35-1, et al.) and available for public inspection, submissions or requests at the Office of the Secretary of State, Administrative Records Division, 337 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island. In order for the Secretary of State to properly provide for the preparation of the ballot to be used in a presidential election, the following rules and regulations shall apply with respect to the filing of declarations of candidacy of independent presidential electors; the circulation of nomination papers of said candidates for independent presidential electors; the acceptance of said presidential electors by the independent presidential candidate and/or independent political organization; and the receipt by the Secretary of State of the names of all candidates for president and vice-president. Independent Presidential Electors With respect to independent presidential electors, up to four individuals desiring to become the presidential electors of an independent presidential candidate may file a declaration of candidacy on the prescribed form during the last consecutive Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in June so stating his or her intent. Each individual desiring to become a presidential elector must file a separate declaration of candidacy. During the period for filing declarations of candidacy, the independent presidential candidate, or, in the case where the name of the presidential candidate has not yet been determined, the independent political organization, must file a statement with the Secretary of State indicating the names and addresses of the individual(s) acknowledged by the presidential candidate or organization, as the case may be, to be the approved candidates for presidential electors for the presidential candidate and/or political organization. Nomination papers will be prepared by the Office of the Secretary of State and issued within two (2) business days of the final day for filing endorsements as mandated by R.I.G.L. §17-14-4 . Each nomination paper shall contain the names and addresses of all candidates for presidential elector qualified and acknowledged to be an independent presidential elector for the respective independent organization and/or presidential candidate. Nomination papers shall also contain the name of the independent political organization being represented by said presidential electors. On or before the sixtieth (60th) day before the presidential election, said candidates for presidential elector must submit 1,000 signatures of qualified electors in the aggregate in order for their presidential candidate to appear on the ballot. Signatures must be submitted to the local board of canvassers where the signers live. Party Presidential Electors With respect to the identification and qualification of presidential electors for presidential candidates for organizations acknowledged as political parties in Rhode Island, there shall be a state convention held not later than October 14 in every even year and in presidential years the party nominees for presidential electors shall be selected. (See R.I.G.L. §17-12-13) Once said convention is held, the secretary of the convention or other duly authorized individual, shall, in writing, forthwith notify the Office of the Secretary of State of the names and addresses of those individuals so nominated as presidential electors. Names of Independent and Party Presidential Candidates In order to allow for the timely preparation of the ballot to be used in the presidential elections, the names of independent presidential candidates must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State no later than fifty-four (54) days before the date of the election, this being the date on which the Office of the Secretary of State will also announce the names of those individuals who have qualified for ballot placement as independent presidential electors. Said names shall be submitted by the individual authorized by the political organization to make such certification and/or by the independent presidential candidate. With respect to the receipt of the names of candidates for president and vice-president for those national parties holding national conventions, the secretary or duly authorized individual of each national party shall certify to the Office of the Secretary of State the names of the individuals nominated as the party’s candidates for president and vice-president forthwith at the close of the respective convention, said written certification to occur not later than fifty-four (54) days before the date of the election. With respect to receipt of the names of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of an organization not recognized as a national political party while recognized as a political party in Rhode Island as defined by section 17-1-2(f), the secretary or duly authorized individual of said state political party shall certify to the Office of the Secretary of State the names of the individuals nominated as the party’s candidates for president and vice- president forthwith at the close of the respective convention, said written certification to occur not later than fifty-four (54) days before the date of the election.