PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding voters in four communities with November elections that Tues., Oct. 18, is the deadline for applying for a mail ballot.
Jamestown, Tiverton, Warren and Woonsocket voters are scheduled to go to the polls Nov. 8. Voters who for a variety of reasons cannot make it to their polling place on Election Day are eligible to apply.
“Voters who need a mail ballot should know that their local board of canvassers must receive their completed application by 4 p.m. Tuesday,” said Mollis. Applications are available from city or town hall or the Secretary of State’s website at sos.ri.gov/elections/forms.
Once local election officials approve the applications, ballots will be mailed to voters. The state Board of Elections must receive completed mail ballots by 9 p.m. on Nov. 8 in order for them to be counted.
After the deadline for requesting a mail ballot passes, voters who unexpectedly find that they will be unable to vote at their polling place can go to their city or town hall during normal business hours through Nov. 7 and request an Emergency Ballot.
Jamestown will have two school committee seats on the ballot. As a result of a ballot question passed by Jamestown voters in 2009, the seats will have three-year terms that end in 2014 as the town moves its local elections to even-numbered years in order to coincide with state and national elections.
Tiverton voters will be asked to consider a bond issue of up to $7 million for a new library as well as whether to replace the traditional Financial Town Meeting with a Financial Town Referendum.
Warren has a special referendum that would provide as much as $700,000 to make sewer and storm water improvements in order to address water quality problems at Warren Town Beach.
Woonsocket voters will decide races for mayor, city council and school committee as well as four ballot questions including one that would move local elections to even-numbered years in order to coincide with state and national elections.
Secretary of State Mollis oversees many aspects of federal, state and municipal elections. His office also publishes guidebooks that include important dates in the election calendar as well as outline how to run for office and how to vote at the polls.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, making it easier to do business in Rhode Island and making government more open and accessible. For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit sos.ri.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Barnett at 222-4293 or cbarnett@sos.ri.gov
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