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Letter: Candidates need your signatures to get on the ballot

Posted

To the editor:

It's signature season!

From now until July 10, candidates across the state are seeking signatures to get on the ballot. In order to get on a ballot, candidates file a paper with their local board of canvassers, and then must collect signatures from the community they seek to represent. 

Signing a candidate's paperwork isn't a vote for them; it just allows them to get their name onto the ballots for Sept. 8 (Democratic and Republican primaries) and Nov. 3 (general election). 

This year, getting signatures is a little bit more challenging due to COVID. Many candidates are working to safely get their signatures within the next week. Signature events are popping up where you can sign a form from a safe distance and help candidates get on the ballot. At the events I am attending, there will be hand sanitizer, gloves, and a fresh pen for each of you to sign with.

So if you see a signature signing event around town or if you see me and other candidates with masks and clipboards this week, come say hi and sign our forms. We appreciate it.

If you want to confirm your voter registration, you can do so at vote.ri.gov. 

Having multiple candidates to choose from on our ballots is one of the ways we can exercise our voices and build a democracy that better represents our community. I hope to see you this week and say hello. 

Michelle McGaw

58 Camara Drive

Portsmouth

Editor’s note: Ms. McGaw, a candidate for state representative, District 71, is the wife of Jim McGaw, editor of The Portsmouth Times.

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Matt Hayes, Portsmouth Times Publisher

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Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.