PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding residents of Providence’s Ward 9 that this Saturday is the deadline to register to vote in the special election to fill the late Miguel Luna’s City Council seat.
Residents are scheduled to go to the polls Nov. 29. State law requires voters to be registered at least 30 days before an election in order to be eligible to cast a ballot.
In order to register and vote in the special election, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Ward 9. In addition, state law requires registered voters who have recently changed their names or moved into Ward 9 to re-register.
"If you are not sure whether you are registered to vote or whether your voter-registration information is up to date, check for yourself using the Voter Information Center on our website," said Mollis.
Even though the deadline falls on a Saturday, Providence officials will open City Hall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for residents to register or update their voter registration at the last minute.
Carmen Castillo, who won last Tuesday’s Democratic primary, will face off again Republican Christian Chirino. Castillo’s name will appear first on the ballot thanks to winning a public lottery held at the Secretary of State’s office.
Ward 9 runs between Broad Street and Elmwood Avenue up to Roger Williams Park and includes parts of Washington Park.
There are two more upcoming milestones in the Nov. 29 election calendar.
Nov. 8 is the deadline to request a mail ballot. The Providence Board of Canvassers must receive applications by 4 p.m. on the 8th.
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 city hall during normal business hours through Nov. 28 and request an Emergency Ballot.
Voter-registration forms and mail-ballot applications can be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website.
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 calendar as well as outline how to run for office and how to register and vote.
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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