Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-14-7 (2026)

Number of signers required for nomination papers

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) United States senator or governor. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or an independent candidate for presidential elector, United States senator, or governor shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least one thousand (1,000) voters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the 2020 election only, the nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or an independent candidate for United States senator shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least five hundred (500) voters.

(b) Representative in Congress. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or an independent candidate for representative in Congress shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least five hundred (500) voters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the 2020 election only, the nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or an independent candidate for representative in Congress shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least two hundred fifty (250) voters.

(c) General state offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for the party nomination or an independent candidate for any of the general offices of the state, excluding governor, shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least five hundred (500) voters.

(d) State senator. The nomination papers of a candidate for a party nomination or independent candidate for senator in any senatorial district shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least one hundred (100) voters of the senatorial district.

(e) State representative. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination or an independent candidate for a member of the house of representatives from any representative district shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least fifty (50) voters of the representative district.

(f) City offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination or an independent candidate for any local office to be filled by the voters of any city at large shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least two hundred (200) voters of the city, provided that in the city of Newport, for at-large candidates or candidates for school committee, at least one hundred (100) signatures shall be required; provided, further, that in the city of Woonsocket, for candidates for citywide nonpartisan office, including city council, mayor, and candidates for school committee, if elected, at least one hundred (100) signatures shall be required; and provided, further that in the city of Providence, at least five hundred (500) signatures shall be required.

(g) Voting district moderator or clerk. The nomination papers for a candidate for voting district moderator or clerk in any town shall be signed, in the aggregate, by at least ten (10) voters of the voting district.

(h) Other offices. The nomination papers of a candidate for party nomination for other offices covered by § 17-15-7, or for the election of delegates or for unendorsed party committee candidates, shall be signed, in the aggregate, by fifty (50) voters.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 9 cases, 1961–1997 · leading case: Gelch v. State Bd. of Elections, 482 A.2d 1204 (R.I. 1984).

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Gelch v. State Bd. of Elections, 482 A.2d 1204 (R.I. 1984). · cites it 6× “All of these requirements represent additional reasonable qualifications established by the General Assembly for a person to become an eligible candidate.”

Gill v. State of Rhode Island, 933 F. Supp. 151 (D.R.I. 1996). · cites it 3× “G.L. 17-14-7. The effect' of *157 § 17-14-4 in combining the slate of a party on one nomination paper is that when a person signs the slate’s nomination paper they are not endorsing one candidate but instead the entire slate.”

Malinou v. Bd. of Elections, 271 A.2d 798 (R.I. 1970). · cites it 2× “The petitioner and his supporters then began their efforts to comply with § 17-14-7 [2] and thereby obtain signatures of at least 1,000 "party voters.”

McCarthy v. Garrahy, 460 F. Supp. 1042 (D.R.I. 1978). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 17-14-7 (1970 Reenactment). Because plaintiffs have not challenged these provisions, their validity is not presently before the Court, and the Court does not rule on them at this time.”

Duke v. Connell, 790 F. Supp. 50 (D.R.I. 1992). “§ 17-14-7(a), while a person running for United States Representative must acquire 500 certified signatures, id.”

Vlasaty v. Rhode Island State Bd. of Elections, 376 A.2d 320 (R.I. 1977). “General Laws 1956 (1969 Reenactment) §17-14-7(e) requires at least 50 valid signatures for nomination for state representative.”

Parise v. Bd. of Canvassers & Reg., 170 A.2d 292 (R.I. 1961). “1956, §17-14-7, as amended, qualified as candidates along with thirteen others for the office of fourth ward Democratic committeeman to be voted upon at the Democratic primary on September 28, I960; that among the remaining thirteen candidates who were certified by the…”

Gormally v. State Bd. of Elections, 362 A.2d 156 (R.I. 1976). “1956 (1969 Reenactment) §17-14-7 (h). The canvassers had certified 42 signatures as being valid but rejected 11 others because they did not conform with the mandate of §17-14-8 which specifies that a voter who signs a candidate’s nomination papers must sign his name “as it…”

Boucher v. Begin, 688 A.2d 295 (R.I. 1997). “See § 17-14-7(e). Burlingame appealed both board decisions to the State Board of Elections.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-14-7(a) — 1 case

Duke v. Connell, 790 F. Supp. 50 (D.R.I. 1992). “§ 17-14-7(a), while a person running for United States Representative must acquire 500 certified signatures, id.”

— R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-14-7(e) — 2 cases

Boucher v. Begin, 688 A.2d 295 (R.I. 1997). “See § 17-14-7(e). Burlingame appealed both board decisions to the State Board of Elections.”

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