RI Presidential Ballot Access
Rhode Island Presidential Ballot Access Requirements
State-level general-election presidential ballot access requirements for Rhode Island, including party nomination, petition access, and write-in rules where available in the NASS summary.
Party Nomination
Political Party Nomination
A presidential candidate nominated by a political party may be placed on the general election. Political parties must certify the names of individuals nominated as candidates for president and vice president to the Elections Division no later than 54 days before the election. Political parties must nominate presidential electors at a meeting to be held no later than October 14th. A political party is any political organization that:-nominated a candidate for governor at the next preceding general election for general officers who received at least 5% of the entire vote cast for governor, or;-nominated a candidate for president at the next preceding presidential election who received at least 5% of the entire vote cast in the state for president A political organization may also obtain political party status by filing with the local boards of canvassers no later than A ugust 1st petition forms containing the signatures of registered qualified voters equal to 5% of the entire vote cast in the state for governor or pre sident in the immediately preceding general election.
Petition Access
Petition / Independent Candidate Access
An independent presidential candidate or presidential candidates seeking to establish a political party may obtain ballot acc ess by filing nomination papers containing the signatures of 1000 voters. The candidate must file a declaration of candidacy, and, where ap plicable, a notice of intent to establish a political party, no later than the last day for filing with the secretary of state for congressional and statewide offices. The nomination papers must be filed with local boards of election no later than 60 days before the election.
Write-In
Write-In Rules
A voter may write-in the name of a presidential candidate on the ballot.
Legal Citations
Source Citations
- R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 17-1-2, 17-12-13, 17-12-15, 17-14-7, 17-14-11, 17-14-12, 17-19-31
Source and Use
How to Read This Ballot Access Data
This reference is generated from NASS Summary: State Laws Regarding Presidential Ballot Access for the General Election.
- Primary source
- NASS ballot access summary PDF
- Coverage
- General-election presidential ballot access requirements by state, as summarized by NASS.
- Use note
- Informational reference only; verify current law with the state election office, current statutes, and legal counsel.
- These entries summarize general-election presidential ballot access rules for political party nominees, petition candidates, fee access where listed, and write-in candidacies.
- Ballot access law can change through statutes, court decisions, and state election guidance. Verify requirements with the state election office before relying on them.
- This reference does not state whether any candidate has qualified for a state ballot.
- This page is informational and is not legal advice or a filing procedure guide.