Rhode Island Regulations § 100-RICR-20-00-1.5 Independent Presidential Candidates and Electors

A. Up to four individuals desiring to become the presidential electors of an independent presidential candidate may file a declaration of candidacy form provided by the Department of State during the last consecutive Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in June of the presidential election year. Each elector must file a separate declaration of candidacy form.

B. 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 Department 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 candidate(s) for presidential electors for the presidential candidate and/or political organization.

C. Nomination papers will be prepared by the Department of State and issued within two (2) business days of the final day for filing endorsements (R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-14-4 ). Each nomination paper shall contain the names and addresses of all candidates 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 (R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-14-11 ), said candidate(s) 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 in the city/town where the signers live.

D. The names of independent presidential/vice presidential candidates must be submitted to the Department of State no later than fifty-four (54) days before the date of the election. Said names shall be submitted by the individual authorized by the political organization to make such certification and/or by the independent presidential candidate. On the same day, the Department of State will announce the names of those individuals who have qualified for ballot placement as independent presidential electors.