Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Rhode Island

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Rhode Island, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Rhode Island. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Rhode Island." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Rhode Island in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Rhode Island, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island	U.S. Senate	Recognized party	TBD	TBD	N/A	N/A	TBD (declaration of candidacy due); TBD (nomination papers due)	Source
Rhode Island	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	TBD	TBD	N/A	N/A	TBD (declaration of candidacy due); TBD (nomination papers due)	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Rhode Island in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Rhode Island, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island	U.S. House	All candidates	500	N/A	TBD	Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Rhode Island in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Rhode Island, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island	U.S. House	All candidates	500	N/A	7/15/2022	Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Rhode Island in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Rhode Island, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island	Governor	All candidates	1,000	N/A	7/15/2022	Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Rhode Island in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Rhode Island, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island	U.S. Senate	Recognized party	500	Reduced for 2020	N/A	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source
Rhode Island	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	500	Reduced for 2020	N/A	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Rhode Island in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Rhode Island, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island	1st Congressional District	Recognized party	250	Reduced for 2020	N/A	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source
Rhode Island	1st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	250	Reduced for 2020	N/A	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source
Rhode Island	2nd Congressional District	Recognized party	250	Reduced for 2020	N/A	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source
Rhode Island	2nd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	250	Reduced for 2020	N/A	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Rhode Island House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island House of Representatives	All candidates	50	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Rhode Island State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Rhode Island State Senate	All candidates	100	N/A	6/24/2020 (declaration of candidacy due); 7/10/2020 (nomination papers due)	Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Rhode Island elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

June 27, 2018

2016

See also: Rhode Island elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Rhode Island in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
June 29, 2016	Ballot access	Deadline for candidates to file declarations of candidacy
July 15, 2016	Ballot access	Deadline for filing nomination papers
September 13, 2016	Election date	Primary election
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
Source: Rhode Island Secretary of State, "How to Run for Office Guide," accessed April 15, 2016

2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.
See also: Rhode Island elections, 2015 There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative, or congressional elections in Rhode Island in 2015.

2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Rhode Island elections, 2014 Rhode Island held a primary election on September 9, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices: Governor of Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island Rhode Island Attorney General Rhode Island Secretary of State Rhode Island Treasurer 75 seats in the Rhode Island House of Representatives 38 seats in the Rhode Island State Senate 2 seats in the United States House of Representatives 1 seat in the United States Senate The deadline to submit paperwork to create a new political party that would nominate candidates in the primary election was June 1, 2014 (for new parties not nominating their candidates via primary, the deadline was August 1, 2014). Candidates had to file Declarations of Candidacy by June 25, 2014. Nomination papers were made available to candidates on July 1, 2014. Candidates were required to submit nomination papers to local boards of canvassers on July 11, 2014. The table below summarizes important ballot access, campaign finance, and election dates for 2014. Legend:      Ballot access     Campaign finance     Election date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014 Deadline Event type Event description April 30, 2014 Campaign finance 1st on-going quarterly report** June 1, 2014 Ballot access Deadline to submit paperwork to create a new political party that will nominate candidates in the primary June 25, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for candidates to file a Declaration of Candidacy form July 1, 2014 Ballot access Nomination papers are made available for election officials July 11, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers to local boards of canvassers July 31, 2014 Campaign finance 2nd on-going quarterly report** August 1, 2014 Ballot access Deadline to submit paperwork to create a new political party that will nominate candidates in the primary August 12, 2014 Campaign finance 28 days pre-primary report** September 2, 2014 Campaign finance 7 days pre-primary report** September 9, 2014 Election date State primary date October 7, 2014 Campaign finance 28 days pre-election report/7 days post-primary report** October 28, 2014 Campaign finance 7 days pre-election report** October 31, 2014 Campaign finance 3rd on-going quarterly report** November 4, 2014 Election date General election December 2, 2014 Campaign finance 28 days post-election report** February 2, 2015 Campaign finance 4th on-going quarterly report** ** Campaign finance reporting requirements vary according to the candidate's level of participation in each election. For more detailed information, see "Campaign finance" below.

Process to become a candidate

First page of the declaration of candidacy form, 2013

See statutes: Rhode Island General Laws, Title 17, Chapter 14

In Rhode Island, all candidates must adhere to the same filing procedure, regardless of partisan affiliation. First, a candidate must file a declaration of candidacy. A candidate for statewide or federal office must submit this form to the Rhode Island Secretary of State. A candidate for the state legislature must file the declaration with the local board of canvassers in the city or town where he or she is registered to vote. Declarations of candidacy may be filed during the last consecutive Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in June of the election year.

A party candidate uses the declaration of candidacy to declare partisan affiliation, as well. If a candidate belongs to a party but wishes to run under a different party label, he or she must disaffiliate from the original party 90 days prior to filing the declaration of candidacy. Party-affiliated candidates may choose to run as independent candidates. Likewise, unaffiliated candidates may file as party candidates. Once they do, they automatically become members of the party.

In Rhode Island, political party officials may designate candidates to represent their parties in primaries and general elections. Such designations are called endorsements. A party's state committee is responsible for making endorsements for federal and statewide candidates; senatorial and representative district committees make endorsements for state legislative candidates. A majority of the committee's members must sign an endorsement form in order to endorse a particular candidate. Endorsements by district committees must be made by 4:00 p.m. on the day after the last day of the filing period. Endorsements by the state committee must be made by 4:00 p.m. on the second day after the final day of the filing period.

Regardless of endorsement status, a candidate for federal, statewide, or state legislative office must collect signatures on nomination papers, which are issued after the candidate submits his or her declaration of candidacy. Signature requirements are the same for political party candidates as they are for unaffiliated candidates. Nomination papers become available within two business days of the final date for filing endorsements. Signature requirements are summarized in the table below.

Nomination paper signature requirements
Office	Signatures required
Governor, United States Senator	1,000
United States Representative, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state	500
State senator	100
State representative	50

Each sheet of a nomination paper can include only signatures from voters residing in the same city or town. Papers are due to the appropriate local board of canvassers by 4:00 p.m. on the 60th day preceding the primary.

Write-in candidates

Write-in candidates do not need to file special paperwork in order to have their votes tabulated. However, write-in candidates engaged in campaign activities may be required to comply with the state's campaign finance laws.

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Rhode Island.

Nomination papers

Each individual signing a nomination paper must sign with his or her name and residential address. A registered voter can sign any number of nomination papers for any office, provided that the voter is eligible to vote for the office at the general election. A voter does not have to be a member of the political party listed on the nomination paper (if any), and signing a nomination paper does not establish party membership. Each sheet of a nomination paper must include signatures from voters residing within the same city or town.

Nomination papers are provided by election officials. State legislative candidates may have nomination papers duplicated at their expense, but duplications must be time-stamped by the election official who issued the original nomination papers.

Circulation requirements

A petition circulator must sign an affidavit indicating that the individual witnessed each signature made to the nomination papers. The relevant statutes do not specify any additional circulator requirements (such as residency or pay status).

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Rhode Island Secretary of State

148 West River Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02904-2615

Phone: 401-222-2340

Website: http://sos.ri.gov/elections/

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Term limits

State executives

See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

State executive term limits in Rhode Island are established in Article IV of the state constitution and are as follows:

• The governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• The lieutenant governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• The secretary of state may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• The attorney general may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• The treasurer may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits for Rhode Island state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

See also: List of United States Representatives from Rhode Island and List of United States Senators from Rhode Island

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Rhode Island.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Rhode Island
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	2	4
Republican	0	0	0
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	2	4

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island State Senate

Party		As of January 2024
	Democratic Party	33
	Republican Party	5
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		38

Rhode Island House of Representatives

Party		As of January 2024
	Democratic Party	65
	Republican Party	9
	Other	1
	Vacancies	0
Total		75

Related legislation

The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Rhode Island. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Rhode Island
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Rhode Island
• Rhode Island elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Rhode Island
• Counties in Rhode Island
• List of United States Representatives from Rhode Island
• List of United States Senators from Rhode Island
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Rhode Island Secretary of State
• Federal Election Commission
• Rhode Island Department of State, "Run for Office Guide 2024"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives