Rhode Island cities set deadlines for filling election board vacancies

Party chairs submit voter lists, and the mayor or council president nominates replacement candidates for the council. The process covers vacancies on city and town canvassing authorities, which oversee local election work. If a party chair fails or refuses to submit a list within 30 days after notice of a vacancy, the mayor or council president nominates a voter from that party. For a vacancy when the two remaining members belong to different parties, recognized party committees that filed their organization with the canvassing authority may each submit a list. Party chairs have 30 days after notice of a vacancy to submit a list. The mayor or council president must nominate within 30 days after receiving the lists. The act takes effect January 1, 2027.

City and town clerks correct official term records and notify the board and affected member when a recorded end date does not follow the law. The correction applies to recorded end dates for local canvassing authority members that do not comply with the law. Terms end on the first Monday of March in odd-numbered years. The act takes effect January 1, 2027.

The chief local election official names an alternate, keeps emergency contacts on file, and requests voter register access changes through the secretary of state. The duties apply to the chief and alternate local election officials and cover emergency contacts for the chief, the alternate, and the canvassing board chair. Where the city or town clerk handles election administration, the clerk or a designee is the chief official. Where a separate election office handles it, the local board designates the chief official. The chief official requests access changes for municipal users who need access to do their election duties. The chief official must keep the required contact information on file at all times. The act takes effect January 1, 2027.