Elections board backs Amore's proposal to let voters sign candidate nomination forms online
A proposal to let Rhode Island voters sign candidates’ nomination papers electronically – increasing access and fending off fraud — inched forward Tuesday with the Rhode Island Board of Election’s backing.
The seven-member panel voted unanimously to support all four pieces of election-related legislation pitched by Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore, including the first-in-the-nation online nomination paper portal. Faith Chybowski, a spokesperson for Amore, said in email Wednesday that Amore appreciates the election board’s support.
But Amore will still have to convince the Rhode Island General Assembly and Gov. Dan McKee on his vision.
As Amore explained to the state elections board at a Jan. 6 meeting, voters can already register or update their registration online, and apply for mail ballots, via the Department of State’s online portal. Using that same software to also let voters sign papers for local, state and federal candidates to qualify for the ballot — verifying their identity with the last four digits of a Social Security number or driver’s license — could eliminate some of the guesswork for local and state election administrators charged with verifying paper-and-pen John Hancocks.
https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/14/elections-board-backs-amores-proposal-to-let-voters-sign-candidate-nomination-forms-online/