PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea announced today that there will be a special election for Representative in General Assembly District 56 to fill the seat of Representative Shelby Maldonado. The special election will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Representative District 56 includes the city of Central Falls.
"Monday morning, my office received Representative Maldonado's resignation letter," said Secretary Gorbea. "We immediately began work with the Board of Elections and the Central Falls Board of Canvassers to prepare a special election for District 56 as provided by Rhode Island state law. Representative Maldonado has been an important voice in the legislature and a transformational leader in Central Falls. I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with her on legislation to make government more accessible, responsive and accountable to all Rhode Islanders. We will miss her, but look forward to her future contributions on the national scene."
State law authorizes the Secretary of State to order a special election to fill a vacancy in representation in any representative or senatorial district in the general assembly.
The declaration period for candidates interested in running for the Representative District 56 seat will take place December 26 and 27, 2019. A special primary election will take place on February 4, 2020, if more than one candidate from either party qualifies for the ballot.
SPECIAL ELECTION CALENDAR
December 26-27, 2019: Candidates to file Declarations of Candidacy with the Central Falls Board of Canvassers
December 30, 2019: Deadline for endorsements to be filed by district committees
January 5, 2020: Last day to register to vote in the primary
January 7, 2020: Deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers to the Central Falls Board of Canvassers
January 14, 2020: Last day to submit a mail ballot application for the primary
January 15 – February 3, 2020: Emergency ballot period for the primary
February 4, 2020: PRIMARY
February 2, 2020: Last day to register to vote in the election
February 11, 2020: Last day to submit a mail ballot application for the election
February 12 - March 2, 2020: Emergency mail ballot period for the election
March 3, 2020: ELECTION
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