Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore has presented two options for scheduling a special election – with the final vote in either October or November – to choose the successor to departing U.S. Rep. David Cicilline in the First Congressional District.
Amore said he discussed the issue Tuesday with Gov. Dan McKee, the state Board of Elections, and local elections officials, after Cicilline revealed he will leave Congress at the end of May to become president/CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.
Under one option, a primary would be held Aug. 8 – the earliest possible date, Amore said, and the special election on Oct. 3. Under a second option, the primary would be Sept. 5 and the special election on Nov. 7.
Amore said it’s possible, but not probable, that the election process would start later than that.
“We believe those are the most reasonable options based on the fact that we don’t want Rhode Island to be unrepresented for too long,” he told The Public’s Radio.
Cicilline’s decision has led an array of Rhode Island politicos to contemplate a run in CD1.
Since the declaration deadline will not be until some time in July at the earliest, potential candidates have months to consider their decision, test their support and raise money. The off-year timing of the election means that incumbents can pursue a congressional seat without risking the loss of their present office.
The possible candidates include former CVS Health exec Helena Foulkes, who ran a competitive primary challenge against McKee last year; Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos; House Speaker Joe Shekarchil; Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera; Liz Beretta Perik, Rhode Island’s Democratic national committeewoman; and a number of state lawmakers, among others.
The authority to launch a special election for a federal office rests with the governor. McKee must wait until the particular office is vacant, and then choose the timing for the election, Amore said.
As far as the timing, the process is mostly driven by federal law, particularly the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, also known as the MOVE Act, which mandates that military and other overseas voters have a mail ballot sent to them 45 days before a federal election.
The timeline requires two days for declaration by candidates, 10 days for the gathering of signatures, two days to verify signatures, and then three days to prepare ballots.
Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org
