Want to know how to run for office? Rhode Island is offering five seminars

The Elections Division at the Rhode Island Department of State, in cooperation with the State Board of Elections, is offering five How to Run for Office seminars to current and potential candidates to learn the ins and outs of getting their names on the ballot this election season. Elections staffers from both agencies will provide would-be candidates information on how to properly complete a Declaration of Candidacy form, how to properly complete nomination papers, how to maintain compliance with campaign finance laws, and more. The seminars complement a new Rhode Island elections website recently released by Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea. Candidates and voters are encouraged to go to vote.ri.gov now a one-stop shop for elections information in the state. Eligible Rhode Islanders can register to vote, update their voter information, and preview their sample ballots at the new site, as well as find in-depth information about how elections work in Rhode Island. "Everyday citizens must have a strong voice in the democratic process,” Secretary Gorbea said. “Whether it is through voting, or running for office, I am committed to encouraging Rhode Islanders to play an active role in our state. The latest updates to vote.ri.gov will help provide candidates and voters with the information they need to be engaged in this year’s elections in a mobile-friendly page." New content added to the site includes civics information for voters, visualizations of voter and past turnout data, and information about how the Elections Division at the Rhode Island Department of State, the Board of Elections, and local boards all work together to run elections across the state. How to Run for Office seminar schedule: Thursday, May 10, 2018 5-7PM CCRI Liston Campus 1 Hilton Street - Providence Room 2246 Saturday, May 12, 2018 10AM-12PM URI Kingston Campus 50 Lower College Rd - Kingston Atrium – Memorial Union Wednesday, May 16, 2018 6-8PM CCRI Newport Campus 1 John Chafee Blvd. - Newport Room 119/121 Wednesday, May 30, 2018 6-8PM CCRI – Lincoln Campus 1762 Louisquisset Pike - Lincoln Faculty Dining room rear Friday, June 1, 2018 6-8PM CCRI Warwick Campus 400 East Avenue – Warwick Room 1128/1130 [From a Secretary of State press release]